“You’re engaged? To who?” Haley whipped around to look. At you. Engaged.

She snatched your wrist. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She had to hope she didn't look too horrified-- angry?-- at the idea. The idea of you head over heels for someone else settled something in her that she really did not appreciate. You were supposed to be hers—except not really. You weren’t. She didn’t even like girls.

But she liked you.

“Don’t— stop looking at me like that!” Haley squeezed tighter. “Who?"

Her eyes drifted to your neck. Sure enough, there was a mermaid pendant right there. It was pretty, but she couldn't help wondering if you really liked it. She had her own. It was alright, though Alex never had a taste quite like hers. You did.

She always danced around how happy you made her and now you’re going to do that for someone else. She supposed it made sense you never talked about it with her, she’d never asked. Assumed that you two were inseparable, in a friendly sort of way.

Thinking about either marriage made her strangely uncomfortable. The thought— not even the ceremony, not moving out of her house, but the horrible, encompassing feeling of being trapped.

Maybe you felt the same. Maybe you’d talk to her about it—like you always did. She had to hope so.