Hed Change for Me
If you invite Nicholas to your birthday, dont expect me there. Not just the partyever. I cant stand the sight of him!
Annie, wait Emily hesitated. How can I not invite him? Hes my husbands brother. Were family.
Oh, come off it. Family! Annie scoffed. Since when are you two so close? You managed fine without him before. Is he really that important to you?
Emily bit her lip nervously. She knew Annie and Nicholas hadnt gotten along for a while, but this? An ultimatumhim or herwas new.
Emily and Nicholas werent exactly friends. More like civil acquaintances. No, he wasnt important to her. But her husband, William, was.
Annie, do you even realise what youre asking? Its you or William. Hes
I get it, Annie cut in. Williams feelings come first. Loud and clear.
The conversation ended there, leaving a bitter taste. Emily felt cornered, accused of betrayal.
She understood Annies pain, but she also felt unfairly blamed. Why couldnt Annie see her side? Why did Emily have to choose between family and a lifelong friend?
Theyd been inseparable since childhoodsame nursery, same school. Their families were close. Summers were spent at Annies grandparents cottage by the sea. Twice, both families holidayed together in Brighton.
Growing up, Emily was self-conscious about her weight, and classmates teased her relentlessly. Annie, bold and quick-tempered, always defended her, even throwing punches if needed. Soon, everyone knew: Emily was off-limits.
In return, Emily helped Annie with homework, shared sweets, and lent clothes when asked. Their families remained closeAnnies parents even helped with home repairs recently. Emily was treated like family at Annies house, welcomed at every gathering.
Annie wasnt just a friend. She was a part of Emilys lifeimpossible to erase.
Once, theyd almost become family. Well, not quite. It was a far-fetched idea, but Annie believed it wholeheartedly.
Hey, what if we were actually related? Annie said one day. Introduce me to Nicholasyour brother-in-law. Decent men are hard to find, and hes right there. Wouldnt it be perfect?
Emily stiffened. In theory, it sounded nice. But she knew Nicholas too well. Charming, yestall, handsome, sociable. But hopelessly fickle. He cycled through girlfriends without a second thought.
Annie, decent is a stretch, she warned gently. Hes a proper flirt. Not your type.
Please, theyre all like that until they meet the one, Annie smirked. He just needs the right girl to reform him. And I can be that girl.
Emily tried to dissuade her, but Annie wouldnt listen.
She never introduced them, but Annie found Nicholas on social media anyway. Soon, they were dating.
It started sweetlycandlelit dinners, loved-up posts, matching profile pictures. Annie was over the moon. Then, predictably, it fell apart.
Em, have you seen Nicholas? Annie fretted over the phone.
No, why?
He hasnt replied since yesterday. I hope hes okay.
*Hes probably more than okay*, Emily thought grimly.
Annie I warned you. You know what hes like.
Something mustve happened at work. Or his phone died. Hell change for meyoull see.
But Nicholas didnt change. He cheated. When Annie uncovered photos of him with another woman, she erupted. For months, she ranted to Emily, seething if his name even came up.
At first, Annie still attended family events but couldnt resist jabbing at him.
Annie, pass the crab salad, please, hed say politely.
Ask your harem, shed snap.
Nicholas endured it silently, but tension hung thick. Eventually, Annies bitterness faded to indifference. She stopped stalking his profiles, stopped glaring. He might as well not exist. Emily thought the storm had passeduntil Annie learned Nicholas had a new girlfriend.
This wasnt another fling. Six months in, he was still devoted, even introducing her to his parentssomething hed never done for Annie.
The news crushed her.
So, he wouldnt lift a finger for me, but for *her*, hes suddenly a saint? Annie hissed. Whats she got that I dont? Saw her photosdresses like a bloke, nose like a potato, chin sharp enough to crack nuts.
Emily recognised the venom masking hurt. But why take it out on *her*? She hadnt betrayed Annie. Worse, there was no clean solutionsomeone would get hurt.
That evening, Emily confided in William. He sighed, rubbing his neck.
Honestly, its all a bit childish. But if you want to invite her, I get it. Nicholas doesnt *have* to come. Its your day.
The contrast struck her. *This* was how loving people behavedno ultimatums, no demands. If roles were reversed, Emily wouldve swallowed her pride for Annies sakeor declined politely, never making her choose.
Once, shed have cavedreshuffled plans, made excuses to Nicholas. But not this time.
The night before the party, she texted Annie:
Are you coming? Just so I know.
Not if *hes* there.
Annie, I invited my brother-in-lawand you, my best friend. Id love to see you. If not, I understand.
Annie never came. Just a curt birthday text in the morning. Emily didnt lash out. She simply thanked her.
The party was surprisingly warm. Nicholas brought his girlfriendquiet, unassuming Daisy. Laughter flowed, toasts were made. William never said a word, but his grateful smile said enough.
Still, Emily kept glancing at her phone. *Maybe?*
It hurt. Despite the joy, she felt like shed lost somethinga piece of her life. But as she tidied up with William that night, she caught herself. Yes, it ached. But shed done right. She hadnt chosen peace at any costshed chosen herself, her family.
True friendship never forces you to choose.
