38

ASHLEY

I watched as the girls downed their drinks at a go, getting up from their seats and picking up their purses. My eyes widened in alarm and I stood up also.

"Wait, you guys are leaving?!" I practically yelled. Their eyes softened and they shot me a sad smile, coming to my side to hold my hands in each of theirs.

"We can't stay here forever," Ivana said.

"Yeah, at some point, you are going to have to go inside to meet him. You can't avoid him forever." Dawn spoke quietly and I felt my heart sink to the bottom of my stomach. They were right. I have been sitting out here since the wedding ended and I couldn't bring myself to go inside to face him.

"But__"

"Come here," Ivana said softly and I threw myself in her arms, my shoulders quaking with sobs. Dawn joined in the hug, wrapping her arms around my body. The girls and I stayed that way for a while before they finally pulled away.

"Promise to come visit me always?" I asked them, and they nodded with teary eyes. They kissed my cheeks