"What?!" I shriek "Alex is Oli's dad? I didn't know you guys even talked that much"

"You didn't guess?"

"What? How would I guess?"

"Um I don't know, maybe the fact you walked in on him literally playing Oli. Didn't find that odd"

"Well yeah but I thought he was just visiting old friends from before he left"

We make eye contact before we both burst out laughing at my stupidity

"Anyway so remember how I said it was a friends with benefits thing?" She asks and I nod "well it was and you're right me and Alex didn't really talk in school but it was the night of graduation and we were both so drunk that we just got carried away"

"So you done the whole friends with benefits thing for three years?" I asked doing the math because it was three years later when she got pregnant

She nods "and I obviously got attached"

"So what happened when you found out you were pregnant?"

"He was with me when I found out and we got into this stupid argument about what we were going to do with the baby - I wanted to keep it, he wanted to live his life" she sighs "the argument ended in me throwing things at him, him slamming the door as he left and me spending the rest of the day crying"

She takes a few seconds break "I never told him what I really wanted - which was to have our baby and maybe even become a family and two months later I found out through other people that he'd left town to go backpacking" she looks at me a regretful look in her eyes "and that's why I did what I did and resented Oli and I hate myself for it now"

"So the first time you heard from him was when he got back"

She nods "you're probably wondering why I even let him back into our life. I guess part of me still likes him and the other part of me knows neither of us were in the right head space at the time. I made mistakes too"

"You know that's really mature of you" I tell her "so how has it been since he got back?"

"He's really stepped in and Oli even called him 'Dada' yesterday and I swear his face lit up and I can tell he regrets leaving when he did and I regret letting him"

"I'm really happy for you Em" I smile "now when was the last time you went out?"

"I don't even remember" she laughs

"Well pick a day and I'll babysit"

"You don't mind?"

I shake my head "of course not obviously I can't do it when I'm at the wedding but any other day"

"Tomorrow night?" She asks

"Sure"

——————————

Babysitting that night went pretty smoothly along with everything else coming up to the wedding. It's currently the day before the wedding and I'm doing some last minute preparation.

I decided to get my lashes and nails done.

I thankfully had a dress at home I could wear that I bought a few months ago that I never got a chance to wear.

Ryder is picking me up in an hour because we're staying in a hotel tonight so we don't have to get up really early tomorrow so all I've left to do is pack

Before I knew it Ryder was texting me that he was outside. I threw my bag over my shoulder and stuck the note I wrote my mom on the fridge telling her I'd see her Sunday

I threw my bag into the back of his car before getting into the passenger seat "Hey" I say buckling my seatbelt

"Hey, all ready to meet my crazy family then?" He asks

"I mean they couldn't be as bad as you" I joke

Almost three hours later we park outside the hotel. It was pretty fancy and overall made me excited for tomorrow but then on the inside I really was shitting myself, I mean I'm meeting Ryder's whole family tomorrow - what will they think I am to him - a friend? A bimbo? His girlfriend?

"What are we Ry?" I ask him as we walk towards the entrance

"What do you mean?" He gives me a confused glance

"Are we friends? I mean what are we?"

Why of all times would my dumbass decide now is the best time to bring this up

He stops in his tracks turning to face me as I do the same to him "I don't know Tal, we're not exactly what people would classify as 'friends' but we're not in a relationship"

"So when your family ask you what I am to you, you're going to say?...."

He sighs "you're just Talia"

"Ouch?" I say it sounding more like a question because not even I know if I'm supposed to be offended or complimented my that

I'm leaning towards offended

He huffs agitatedly running a hand through his hair "what do you want me to say? You said it yourself you don't even know what we are"

"Whatever, lets just check in"

He mutters something under his breath that I don't catch and I start walking ahead of him

"How can I help you guys" The woman behind the desk asks as we walk up still not talking

"Hi we're just checking in" Ryder tells her "Ryder Smith"

"Okay Ryder" she says as she types on her computer, her friendly smile drops "you booked for two double beds?"

We both nod. We had decided when booking it to go for two double beds to avoid any questions

She gives us a regretful look "unfortunately we're fully booked this weekend and somehow we've overbooked you guys. The only room left is the honeymoon suite, obviously as you didn't book this room there will be no extra charges. Again I'm sorry for the inconvenience but I'll book you both in for the suite now"

Ryder shifted awkwardly in the spot and I pretended I was interested in some pictures on the wall. A few minutes later she had the friendly smile back on her face. She slid the keys across the counter "There you go Mr Smith, if you turn right at the end of the corridor the elevators are there. If you hit H3 it'll take you to your floor and your room number is 2436. I hope you enjoy your stay"

We done as she said. Ryder unlocked the door and straight away there was rose petals on the ground with candles in between them like a walkway to the main room. The bed also had rose petals in the shape of two hearts and balloons surrounded the floor. There was also a bathtub filled with rose petals in the bathroom. The view was amazing and the room itself was huge.

"I mean at least we get a nice view" Ryder mutters and jumps onto the bed

I laugh "trust you to find the good in things"