Stormi stood in front of the mirror, running her fingers through her hair as she prepared for her much-needed girls' day with Wren. After the chaos of Wren's wedding, a day of shopping and relaxation was just what she needed. But as she applied her lipstick, she couldn't shake the nagging thoughts that had been plaguing her all week. Riley’s sudden disappearance weighed heavily on her mind, and the memory of what she had done after the wedding refused to leave her alone.

She sighed, pushing the thoughts aside. "Today is about Wren," she reminded herself. "No drama."

Stormi met Wren at their favorite café, the one they had frequented since college. The familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of light chatter enveloped her as she stepped inside. Wren was already seated at their usual table, her newlywed glow unmistakable.

Stormi slid into the chair opposite her friend, a grin spreading across her face. "So, how's married life treating you?" she teased.

Wren blushed, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. "It's pretty good," she admitted, her voice soft and content.

Stormi leaned in, her grin turning mischievous. "Getting steamy with each other?"

Wren’s blush deepened, and she looked away, embarrassed. "Storm, that's private!" she protested.

Stormi laughed, delighted by her friend's reaction. It was moments like these that made her feel grounded, connected to the life she used to have before everything became so complicated. "Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore," she promised, raising her hands in surrender.

"Good," Wren replied, trying to sound stern but failing as she joined in the laughter. "I won’t talk to you if you do."

"Aww, I’m so hurt!" Stormi feigned heartbreak, clutching her chest dramatically. "How will I survive?"

Wren rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah, yeah… keep pretending."

Their banter continued as they ordered their meals, laughing and chatting about everything from Wren’s honeymoon adventures to the latest trends in fashion. But as the conversation lulled, Wren's expression turned more serious.

"Are you feeling okay?" Wren asked gently, concern filling her voice. "I haven’t seen you since before I left for my honeymoon."

Stormi hesitated, the weight of the past week settling on her shoulders once more. "About the same," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "Nothing has changed."

Wren frowned. "Are you still going to the hospital every day?"

Stormi shook her head. "Only two or three times a week now. It’s just… too painful to go every day."

Wren reached across the table, squeezing Stormi’s hand. "I understand. It would be hard on anyone."

Stormi appreciated the gesture but found herself unable to fully relax. Memories of that night, blurry and fragmented, surged to the forefront of her mind. She needed to tell Wren what had happened—she needed to confess the truth that had been eating away at her since that night.

"Wren," Stormi began, her voice uncertain, "I have to tell you something that happened after your wedding."

Wren’s eyes widened with curiosity. "What’s that?"

Stormi took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Well… I kind of got really drunk the night of your wedding."

Wren’s concern deepened, but she remained silent, waiting for Stormi to continue.

"Riley took me home," Stormi admitted, her voice trembling. "But… something happened."

Wren’s eyes grew even wider. "Oh my God! You didn’t sleep with Riley while you were drunk, did you?"

Stormi’s face flushed with embarrassment. "No, no! Nothing like that!" she stammered. "But… I mistook him for Rex while I was drunk. And… I… I kissed him."

Wren’s jaw dropped in shock. "You what?!"

Stormi’s heart pounded in her chest as she confessed, "I accidentally kissed him. I feel so bad about it. We grabbed a bite to eat the next day, and I apologized, but…"

Wren leaned in, her expression intense. "What did Riley say?"

Stormi bit her lip, recalling Riley’s gentle response. "He was very understanding. He said not to worry about it."

"But…?" Wren pressed, sensing there was more.

Stormi’s eyes filled with guilt. "But I haven’t really talked to him since then. I feel terrible, Wren. Riley used to like me, and I just… I don’t know. Should I call him and apologize again?"

Wren’s face fell, her expression somber. "You won’t be able to."

Stormi’s heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Wren hesitated, clearly struggling with how to break the news. "Riley is gone, Stormi."

"Gone?" Stormi echoed, her voice barely a whisper. "What do you mean he’s gone?"

Wren’s eyes were full of sympathy as she explained, "He left last week. He told Connor he didn’t know when he’d be back."

Stormi felt as though the ground had been pulled out from under her. "It’s all my fault, isn’t it?" she whispered, her eyes welling with tears.

Wren reached out, taking Stormi’s hands in hers. "It kind of seems like it’s related now that I’ve heard what happened," she admitted softly.

Stormi’s heart ached with the weight of her guilt. "Now I feel even worse," she murmured, her voice trembling. "Where did he go?"

Wren shook her head sadly. "I’m not sure. He said he was going to backpack travel to find himself."

Stormi’s vision blurred with tears. "I hurt him, Wren," she choked out. "I knew something was wrong. I knew he was struggling, but I acted like I didn’t know. I’m too selfish to ask him to pretend and still be friends."

Wren squeezed her hands tighter, her voice gentle but firm. "You just followed your heart, loving Rex. You didn’t want to lose Riley as a friend. I’m sure he knows that."

Stormi’s tears spilled over, running down her cheeks. "Do you think he’ll come back?"

Wren hesitated before replying, "I’m not sure, but for now, it’s probably better this way. Riley needs time to work out his feelings for you and let them go."

Stormi’s heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vise. "What hurts the most," she whispered, "Is that he left with a smile, even though his heart was breaking because of me."

Wren pulled her into a comforting embrace, holding her tightly as Stormi sobbed quietly. "Sometimes we have to let people go," Wren murmured. "And if they come back, then they’re meant to be in our lives."

Stormi clung to her friend, her tears soaking into Wren’s shirt. "I hope you’re right," she whispered, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

But deep down, Stormi couldn’t shake the feeling that she had lost Riley for good. As she sat there, wrapped in her friend’s comforting arms, she wondered if she would ever see him again—or if she had unknowingly pushed away the one person who had always made sure that she was right in the world.