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I wasn't going to update this so soon BUT I JUST COULDN'T WAIT!
Spencer's talk with Charlie did help, albeit a very small amount but he still felt very down. He spent the next week trying to distract himself but every time he went to the French café he remembered Madeline. France was always her favourite place. And on his way back, whenever he passed Amelie's old work place he remembered her. The place he would kiss her goodbye every morning when he walked her to work. There were markers of both of them all over Manhattan and it was driving him crazy.
However, one day, as he was scrolling through social media he stumbled upon a throwback from some fashion aesthetic page that made him stop. It was a photo from Nora's photoshoot with Madonna from high school. She looked so young and energised. It was shot pre-Oliver of course.
Another bout of guilt coursed through him.
He had been so consumed with his issues that he completely forgot about Nora who stood by him always. He should have asked about her, seen how she was after her divorce. He had to call her. After all, she was perhaps the only close friend he had left. He texted her a quick invitation to his house and she responded almost immediately.
'I'll see you in 10'
True to her word, ten minutes later, Nora knocked on his door. As soon as he opened it, she squealed and latched onto him.
"Nora!" Spencer exclaimed, engulfing her in a hug. "I'm so happy to see you!"
"I've missed you, so much Spence!"
He led her into his living room and they sat down. Nora stretched her legs onto the sofa as In her hand was a plastic bag that she placed onto the table. Spencer opened it up and laughed.
"Sushi and rosé?"
"It's basically our tradition by now, babe."
Spencer was famished and he immediately cracked open a plastic box, running to the kitchen to get his custom pair of porcelain chopsticks. Nora seemed more preoccupied with the rosé, filling up a tumbler glass with the delicious pink drink. Spencer took his usual seat, snug in his recliner.
"I'm sorry for not asking about you sooner, Nor." Spencer eventually said, with his mouth full of sashimi. "Oliver told me what happened."
Nora's smile faltered and she sighed. "Um, yeah. A lot happened."
"I'm so sorry Nora. I should have asked about you sooner. I hope you're okay."
"It's okay. I should have realised it sooner but Oliver is a bit of a jackass. That boy has his own issues he needs to solve. I was just so obsessed with this idea of being with him and spending a long, perfect life with him. I ignored all the warning signs. I loved him. I still love him because you can't get over that sort of love in less than a month. But I'm over the compulsion I felt to be with him."
Spencer pushed the other tray of sushi towards her. "I always thought you were too good for him. Don't get me wrong, Oliver is my brother. But even I can see he wasn't what you deserved. You deserve better Nora."
"Oh, Spence.... I wish all guys were like you. You're such an angel."
Spencer shook his head. "I'm no angel. I got together with Amelie even though I was in love with someone else. I told Madeline I loved her a week before her wedding when I knew she didn't feel the same way. And, I cheated on Amelie with Madeline!"
"Oh, yeah, at my engagement party. That was very douchey."
Spencer paused. "Wait, how do you know?"
Nora clamped her mouth shut and began to play with her hair.. "Uh... I guessed."
"That's a pretty far-fetched guess Nora. Did... did Madeline tell you about us sleeping together?"
He promised himself he would try to get over her. Stay cool, Spencer. It's not a big deal.
But, if she did tell Nora, that meant she was talking about him. Oh how he would have loved to hear that conversation.
"No!"
He wondered what else she told her. Did she mention anything about his confessions of love? Or, better yet, did she tell Nora that she loved him back? Spencer's heart was pounding.
"Don't lie-"
"Spencer!" Nora hissed. "Let it go! We were discussing my heartbreak, not yours. Anyway, so after I told Oliver I wanted a divorce, I went on holidays. To Barbados!"
"I'm very jealous!" Spencer sighed, mentally putting away all his Madeline thoughts in a neat box marked 'DO NOT OPEN' in his mind. He pointed to the view outside, through his long windows. The rain was pouring down mercilessly. Grey clouds cast a dreary shade across the city and it was miserable. The weather had been stormy for a few days. It really matched the way he felt.
"It was really nice. You should go sometime. Barbados is the place to be."
"I definitely will....wait. Barbados? As in where Madeline is from? Did she go with you?"
Nora pursed her lips. "Maybe."
Spencer heart slowed down. "Oh."
Nora looked pained, like she wanted to tell him something. She was holding something back. She released a long breath and looked up at him with a sudden determination in her eyes.
"Spencer...." She said, he voice trailing with a a meddling tinge to her tone. "You should call her..."
Spencer had to shut that down immediately. He couldn't be dragged back into the Madeline mess. He couldn't put her through another one of his declarations again. He needed to let her go.
"No. No more, Nora. You keep trying to force us together. You tried your best but it never worked out. I appreciate you wanting to make me happy but Madeline doesn't love me like that."
Nora bit her lip nervously and looked around. She wasn't looking around his apartment in admiration or interest however. She was looking around to avoid eye contact. Why was she avoiding eye contact with him?
"Nor? What's wrong?"
She squeaked something inaudible before clearing her throat. "Um... okay. So you and Amelie broke up, yes?
"Yes? But-"
"Why?"
"I told you, I-"
"Yes, you said you cheated on her. But she forgave you, I assume, because it's been three months since my party so what was the other reason."
"Oh. Well, Amelie said she loved me but I couldn't say it back."
"Okay," Nora sighed. "And why couldn't you say it back?"
"Oh... I don't know."
"Oh, come on now Spence. I think you do know. Do you still love Madeline?"
"Always," He answered without hesitation before clamping his mouth shut. Shit. "Wait," He spluttered. "What are you doing? What has gotten into you?"
Nora cursed under her breath before looking into his eyes with fierce intent. "Call her. She needs to know you still love her."
"But she's with Blake."
Nora nervously bit her lip. "They broke up the day after the wedding."
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"Oh."
Nora rolled her eyes. "You should talk to her."
He shook his head rapidly. As much as he wanted to, he knew he couldn't. "She won't want to talk to me. She texted me a few weeks ago. She said that she needed to meet me. That it was urgent. But this was in the middle of a fight Amelie and I were having over her so I had to block her in front of Amelie to prove to her that I was over Madeline."
"And were you over her?
"Definitely not." Thinking back, Spencer wondered why he was dishonest in the first place. Why was he leading Amelie on when he knew he was in love with someone else? Maybe he was scared of confronting his feelings? Maybe he was scared of confronting Amelie and telling her the harsh truth? Either way, he was a coward.
Nora sighed. "Spence, I really think you should call Madeline."
"No, I have to get over her-"
"How did that go the last hundred times?!" She asked sarcastically. "Seriously, Spencer, you need to call her."
"I can't. I was a coward and I don't deserve her. She deserves better than me."
"Right now she needs you, Spencer. Trust me."
"Why does she need me? Is she okay?"
Nora groaned. "I promised her I wouldn't meddle in your relationship with her again but please call her."
"Nora, what do you know?"
"Uh..." Nora nervously downed the remainder of her rosé before standing up. "I'm sorry. She needs to be the one that tells you-"
"Nora!" Spencer followed her to the door. "Nora, please tell me. Is she okay?"
"She's.... damn it, I can't tell you! She made me swear! Just call her!
"I can't call her! I just want to know if she's okay!"
"Stop being so stubborn and just call her!"
"Nora, please. I need to know if she's okay."
"I...."
"Please," Spencer pleaded, his voice breaking. He had no idea how much his life would change once Nora uttered her next sentence. The next sentence she said meant everything. Everything that had ever happened to him led up to this moment. His life began with Nora's next sentence.
"Spencer... Madeline is pregnant."
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I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG TO RELEASE THIS CHAPTER AGHHHHH