The Accidental Wife by Sara Islam

FD

Chapter 131

"Are

sure that this is okay?" | skeptically ask as | get in the passenger seat. | can already feel my heart racing and I'm

not you sure if this is because I'm in the passenger seat or because I'm going to spend almost two hours in a car

with Silas. "Giveone reason why this won't be okay," he wonders and | stay silent, not having a reason |

could give him. Maybe it's because we haven't spoken in so long, and if he hadn't messagedyesterday,

askingif | wanted to tag along with him, | wouldn't have spoken to him. "Exactly, there's no reason that we

know of. Has Everest told you something?"

Well, he

"He

the captain now." My eyes go wideelings, but his face is neutral. He has cut his hair and the haircut suits him a

lot. "How's football going?" | change the subject, not wanting Everest to be the main focus of our talk.

I look

he indeed has said lots of things. He expressed that he didn't like how Silas was my ride, but when | told him that

my parents insisted that | should go with Silas, he gave in. My parents didn't say anything, but it was my way out

if | wanted to save myself any hassle. | wasn't in the mood to escalate the whole sit but here | am," | say looking

at him. "Wait! You know that I'm dating Everest?" | ask, fully taking in his question now. situation to a fight.

expressed his | his dislike for the whole i idea, but "Yeah, | know. | saw you two kissing once in the lobby of our

apartment complex," he answers and | slowly nod. | want to ask him how he's feeling, but I'm not going to do

that. | can't do that. Not when | know that he's probably hurt. I'm dating someone he doesn't like. | at t him,

attempting to to decipher his "I'm the when he says that. | remember that he toldhe becthe co-captain

last year, which meant that he was bound to becthe captain. However, hearing such great news from him is

great. "Congratulations!" | "I exclaim, feeling genuinely happy for him. | may not remember anything about our

relationship, but I do remember Silas being a great man and there's no doubt that he deserves the best in life.

for a second | before looking back at the road. It's like we don't know what we're thirteen and no matter what,

silence never had a place between us, because we used to bicker more than anything in the world. "How are the

guys?" | ask, playing with the end of my sweater. When | decided to pull myself away from Silas, it didn't feel

right to stay friends with them. They are his friends and | don't want things to get uncomfortable or awkward

because of my presence, so | chose to walk away even though I liked their company. "They're doing great. If you

want to attend one of the barbecues we hold at the house, you're welcto come. You know that, right?" he

says, but | know that he's only saying that out of courtesy. How am | welcamong them when I'm the one

who broke their friend's heart? | can't even bring myself to text the girls because of the sreason. "Thank

you,

Thank you." He smiles atsupposed to say to each other. There's a voice in my head that keeps tellingwe

were never like that before and | feel like I'm inclined to believe it. Maybe it's because Silas has been there for

long. | have known him since | was almost

but I guess it's better if | keep my distance," | say with a small smile.

"Do whatever makes you comfortable, Rosie, but | want you to know that my door will always be open for you."

His words are so kind that | find myself despising who | am because of what | had done to him.

"You're doing a lot better in the passenger seat," Silas points out

"Therapy is helpinga lot. My heart still beats fast once | get in the passenger seat, but it only takes five

minutes for it to calm down. | give him an update that he probably doesn't want.

I'm so proud of you." His tone is sincere and encouraging.

"I can't bring myself to drive until now, though." | hate my inability to drive and | wish | could do something to

get over this

fear.

08:24 Thu, Oct 17. Chapter 131 0077%0

45

"And this is totally okay-If you'd like, we can give it a try on Sunday morning," he suggests. | want to say yes,

because | know that Silas will be patient with me. As much as | hate to admit it, ot Silas is my safe zone. Even

after everything, | know that I'm certain that he's going to get to my rescue if | ever need him. Because | know

that, | don't want to take advantage of his kindness. That's why | can't bring myself to say yes.

"Why are you overthinking it? | know how to deal with panic attacks, Rosic. So, even if you get one, | know who

assures me.

"Don't you have plans with your friends?" | ask, attempting to get out of the situation in the politest way

possible. to do," he

"Not really." He shrugs and | stay silent. I've got nothing to say to him. "Do I... Do | make you uncomfortable

now?" | hate how small his voice is as he asksthis question. It's like he's afraid of what | may say to him.

"Silas, | can never be uncomfortable around you. You makefeel good about myself and safe too," I tell him. |

find myself comparing how gentle Silas is and how pushy Everest has lately been withand | wonder if | have

been making a bunch of bad decisions lately. "Are you going to be okay with being around me?" I'm hesitant as |

ask, not knowing if there's a better way to phrase my question. "Why won't | be? Just because we broke up, that

doesn't makeunable to be around you. I'm a grown man, Rosie, and | respect your boundaries," he tells me.

"Then | guess we can give it a try on Sunday," | finally accept his offer. If I'm going to try getting behind the

wheel again after the accident, | would like to try it with Silas. "Great!" he he says a genuine smile on his face.

with

When we reach my house, | invite him to cinside, but he politely refuses, tellingthat he needs to get

has soon as possible because he has plans with his friends. I'm going to see him tomorrow and | wonder

how it's going to be.

| saw many pictures of us on the intekissing once as we were entering the venue of an event we attended

together. | kept thinking about the way we looked, because we seemed pretty in love. | hated how | was unable

to remember the type of love we had and | hated myself more for being unable to love him again the way | once

did.

| take a deep breath and make my way to inside the house with only one person in person in my mind: Silas.

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