Free A Twist of Fate by Christa Simpson

out my window at the dull, grey sky, noting the
contours of the thick clouds in the distance, just waiting for the snow to drop
again.  The heat was cranked on high, but it felt like I was sitting in an ice
cube.  Aliah rubbed her hands together and glanced at me.  She hadn't even acknowledged
the massive rock on my finger and there was no way she had missed it.
    "So, spill it!" Jessica broadcasted, from the
front seat.
    "What?" I asked, dramatically.  "Oh, you mean
this?"  My smile beamed when I flipped my hand up to flash my diamond at
her.
    She grabbed onto my hand to gawk and appreciate the amazing
quality of the sizeable stone.  "I bet it cost a fortune."  She
clutched onto my hand, displaying her awe on her face.
    Aliah glanced at it, trying to act casual.  "Holy shitballs. 
That's huge!"  She yanked my hand away from Jessica to take a closer look
herself.
    "What can I say?  He loves me."
    "I'd say," Maddie replied, as she tried to keep
her eyes on the road.
    "When are you getting hitched?" Aliah asked,
suddenly interested.
    I yanked my hand away from her.  "We're not."
    "What?"  Jessica looked stunned.  "A man
doesn't just give you ring like that.  It’s got to be in exchange for something."
    Aliah nodded.  "Hunter told me that Cam had planned to
ask you to marry him at midnight.  But it looked like Edwin put a kink in that plan."
    "He tried to ask me when we were making up.  I wouldn't
let him.  Not last night.  Not like that."
    "Like when then?" Aliah pried, dying to know.
    I shrugged my shoulders.  "I told him later."
    "And he just up and gave you the ring anyway?"
Jessica squealed.
    "We’re treating it as a promise ring.  He said it
symbolizes our commitment to each other."
    “Hah!  He'd say anything to get that ring on your
finger," Aliah stammered.
    I scowled at Aliah, angered by her outburst.  "What's
your point?"
    "You shouldn't have taken the ring.  It's not fair to
Cam," Aliah said.
    Yeah, cuz she was such a model citizen.   "What
do you know?"  Pissed, I stared out the window and gave Aliah the silent
treatment.
    "Cam's a great guy.  He deserves more.  Don't act like later you'll accept his proposal."
    Unable to outright ignore her, I scowled at her again. 
"I will."
    "Mmm hmm.  I saw you with Eddie last night; and in the
hot tub the night before.  I don't doubt that you love Cam, but there's obviously
something still there with Eddie.  You need to figure that out first.  Just face
it: you had your chance at happiness with Cam and you blew it by kissing
Edwin."
    "I blew it?" I screeched.  "Cam was the one
making out with that blonde chick!  Edwin just happened to be the one I took my
frustrations out on."
    "How convenient for you," Aliah said, rolling her
eyes.
    "Screw you!  I love Cam and there's no question about
that."
    "You're right, there's not.  But he’s not the only
one.”
    I stared out the window again, folded my arms across my
chest and tucked my hands in, so I didn’t accidentally pummel my fists into
Aliah’s face.  My heart was racing wickedly.  I was outwardly appalled that she
would sink so low, though in my heart I knew that there was still something
there with Edwin, whether I liked it or not.
    I tried to explain it to myself, replaying those same words
over and over again.  "Eddie doesn't want kids now.  He made that very
clear.  That means we are never going to work out.  What more do you
want from me?"
    Aliah wasn’t having it.  "Whatever."
    Maddie stayed silent, until I urged her to give me her
advice.  "Sorry, Abby.  But you're going to have to figure this one out on
your own."
    "What am I supposed to do?  I love Cam, more than anything."
    "Do you?" Aliah asked, pointedly.
    I narrowed my eyes at her, until they were but irritated
slits cut from my face.  She was being so mean.  "I love him a lot.  He
loves me.  He makes me happy and his daughter’s a total sweetheart.  He can
give me the babies I've always wanted."
    "You seem