The Right Kind of Wrong: A Brother's Best Friend Romance by Fabiola Francisco (open ebook .TXT) 📗

“You’re not married?” I shake my head. “If you were married, then you could live in Spain with your wife since she has a work visa. Spouses are granted permission. Since you aren’t, you’ll have to follow the same protocol as everyone else.”

My shoulders slump. Then, he slides a paper toward me with a nod. I skim the contents and lift my eyebrows. Is he suggesting I marry Ally so I can live with her in Spain?

After I fill out all the paperwork to apply for the visa, I leave the consulate office. Still clutching the paper in my hand, my mind is spinning, and I don’t know what will happen if I get denied. Ally and I are good, and I know that eventually, we’ll get to marriage, but it doesn’t sit right to marry her just so I can move to Spain. I haven’t even told her that I’m in love with her.

I grab my phone and call a buddy of mine from college. Maybe he knows of a job in Madrid for a computer engineer. A work visa will guarantee I’m there with her.

chapter 26

Allyson

I’m going insane. Getting back into a routine since I arrived in Madrid two weeks ago has proven to be difficult. Camden has no idea when he’ll hear if he’s approved for a long-term visa or not. I’m trying to remain calm, but with each passing day, I question everything going on in my life.

Am I making the right choice by staying here? Will my child be American or Spanish? How will I handle parenthood in a foreign country with very little support? When will I see Camden if his visa gets denied?

A jumbled cloud of thoughts fills my mind with every worst-case scenario and doubt. I look down at the pros and cons list on the paper in front of me. Neither one feels right, though. Sighing, I lean back on the sofa.

In need of a distraction, I grab my phone and open my Instagram app, scrolling through pictures of my friends, liking different ones before moving on to another app. When social media doesn’t give me the distraction I crave, I open my e-book and continue reading the book I started weeks ago and haven’t had a chance to finish.

I settle on the couch, positioning the pillow behind me so I can lean back on the armrest and bend my knees as much as my pregnant belly will allow.

The buzzing of my phone disrupts my reading, not that I was fully invested, and I groan as I prop myself up to grab it from the coffee table.

“Hey,” I say, angling the phone to my face as Noel’s smile fills the screen.

“How are you doing?”

“Eh, I’m okay. Torn on a few things but trying to remain positive.” I shift on the sofa and sit criss-cross.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to fly out there?”

“I’m sure. Thank you, though.” Noel has been offering to come spend a few days with me here, but I’d rather be alone. Between my emotions from being pregnant and the harsh reality that Camden and I may not be able to be together right away, I’ve been a hermit. I go to work and come back home.

“I’m going to fly over anyway. You can’t be alone right now. This stress isn’t good for you.” Noel takes on her caretaker role, turning serious.

“I’m okay. I’m just super emotional from the hormones. When you get pregnant, you’ll understand.”

“Psshh… Don’t even, girl. You know I’m not the pregnant kind. Or having babies. Or a family for that matter.”

I shake my head. “Maybe one day, but even if you never do have your own family, you’ll always live the life you want.” Noel goes for what she wants and gets it. She may want different things out of her life than most, but she’s happy. That’s what counts.

“Anyway, if I find a decent flight, I’ll let you know. It’s time for Life with Noel to hit Spain.” She lifts her hand, palm facing up, and I laugh. Her blog is called Life with Noel, and I agree that it’s time for her to visit Spain since I know she’ll love it, but I’m not in the mood for someone to bring me out of my cave.

“You don’t have to. Honestly, I’m fine.”

Noel arches a brow through the screen. “And you know what ‘Fine’ means.” She rolls her eyes and pinches her lips.

“Fucked up, insecure, neurotic, and emotional,” I respond with the acronym she taught me years ago. “And you know what, I am fine because I definitely feel some of those things.” I clench my jaw.

“Ally, I love you, and that is why I’m going to say this, you can’t lock yourself up in your apartment and stop living just because Camden couldn’t go back to Madrid with you. You’re smart, independent, and strong. You two will figure out how to be together if that’s what you want, but putting your life on hold for a man is a no-go in my book and yours.”

My shoulders drop, and I exhale deeply, looking at my best friend through a phone screen, wishing she were here in person, that someone was here to help me through this time. Maybe I should let her fly out here. I’m scared. Scared I’ll have this child alone in a foreign country without his father’s support. Scared that I’ll make the wrong decision and end up regretting it down the road.

The choice should be easy to an outsider, but nothing that tears us in two ever really is.

I know Noel is right, but what keeps me holed up is the pressure of deciding what’s best for me, this baby, and Camden. Is it fair for him to be the only one to be willing to uproot his life for us to be together? No.

“Earth to Ally. Did you hear my speech?