Present day..

Tilly had outdone herself this time. Rose entered the birthday venue and scanned the room, instantly awe struck. A large indoor pool had been hired for the occasion and they had placed a glass floor over the top of it to create a dance floor. Lily pads and candles floated in the pool, giving the entire scene a magical effect.

The rest of the room was covered in fairy lights and Tilly’s favourite flowers—Peonies, in every colour imaginable. There was even an ice sculpture in the corner. It was of Tilly and it creeped Rose out. Ethan should have been there to make fun of it with Rose, but instead she stood there all alone.

Since her arrival the day before, Rose had been fighting a terrible headache, which was making her feel nauseous as well. Ethan had rung a handful of times, but she ignored them. Besides not feeling well, she wasn’t in the mood for an argument. Because that’s exactly what would happen.

She overheard Daniel talking to him that morning. He told Ethan to give her some space. But this time it wasn’t fixable. They tried making it work, but it didn’t. They were just too different, and she was now realising they wanted very different things out of life. 

So the calls had stopped, but the headache had stayed. She was doped up on painkillers just so she could get through the evening.  

“Hey, chicky, how are you feeling?” Tilly asked, walking up behind her.

Tilly had finished greeting her guests, the party was in full swing, and Rose was one of the last to arrive. 

“Better, after my nap,” Rose replied. 

“I’m glad to hear it.” 

Tilly awkwardly gave Rose a hug as she held up her champagne flute of sparkling water with two raspberries—always two raspberries. It was weird, but Rose was just glad that she was staying sober.

“I probably won’t stay late, though. This jet lag is kicking my butt!” Rose smiled weakly at her friend. 

“It’s okay, hon. I know you’re going through some stuff right now. When it gets too much, just let me know and I’ll get John to drive you home.” 

John was Tilly’s new driver, and he was so nice. He reminded Rose of her grandfather and instantly took a liking to him.

“Thanks, you’re the best,” said Rose.

“I know. Which reminds me, I invited a few old friends so you wouldn’t feel lonely tonight.”

Rose looked over to a group that was dancing by the ice sculpture, and Rose instantly smiled. It was Murray, Kenny and Cass. Unfortunately Meg couldn’t make it because she was filming in South Africa, so it was really nice of Tilly to think of Rose when it was her party. 

After a round of hugs and kisses, they all sat down at a table to enjoy some very expensive-looking nibbles.

“How are you Rose?” Kenny asked before popping a small salmon looking appetiser into his mouth.

“I’ve been better,” she replied. 

“Tilly told us what happened. I can’t believe he bailed on you, again.” 

Rose had kept in contact with all of them over the last year and they knew things with Ethan had been tense. She had flown out a few months earlier to attend Murray and Kenny’s wedding. She had been alone then as well.

“I was secretly hoping he might surprise me and show up tonight. But I guess I’m not worth fighting for.” Rose tried fighting back the tears, but it was hopeless. 

“Oh, sweetie, come here.” Cass pulled her chair next to Rose’s and wrapped her arms around her. “It’s okay, we’re here for you. And to be honest, I think this is for the best. If he can’t put your relationship before work, he doesn’t deserve you.”

Rose tried smiling through her tears, but she felt so miserable. She loved Ethan so much, and the fact that he didn’t feel the same about her hurt like hell. She had put her life on hold to move to Los Angeles with him so he could realise his dream of starting his own production company. 

She grabbed a table napkin and inelegantly blew her nose. She really wanted to enjoy the evening and forget about Ethan, but she was a blubbering mess.

After going through a few more napkins, she was finally calming down and enjoying the company of her friends. 

She was even laughing when the music went quiet, and the sound of a knife tapping a wine glass got everyone’s attention. Time for the speeches.

Everyone took a seat while Daniel led Tilly onto the dance floor. As she stood in the middle holding a microphone in one hand and a piece of paper in the other, Daniel got down on one knee beside her.

She didn’t notice at first, but when the room gasped in unison, she looked around to see him at her feet. She dropped her speech and Daniel gently pulled the microphone from her hand.

“Tilly Georgina Durham, when I first met you, I thought you were a silly twit who relied too much on her daddy.” The room gasped again and then laughed. 

“But how wrong was I? Every day you amaze me with your strength. The things you’ve been through and conquered fill me with admiration and pride. I’m so proud of how far you've come since last year and the fact that I get to call you mine makes me the happiest of men.”

Tilly had tears streaming down her face, then he pulled a ring box from his pocket and held it before her.

“Tilly, please marry me and make my life complete.” Daniel was looking a little teary at that point as well.

She nodded and dropped to her knees—which was no easy feat. Her knee-length dress was tight. He put the ring on her finger and kissed her with so much passion, Rose felt a pang of jealousy at their happiness. 

When they finally got up off the ground, all the women and Kenny crowded around them, wanting a look at the ring.

Rose held back and waited until everyone had said their congratulations. She was unbelievably happy for her friend, but she was also ready to call it at night.

Their eyes met across the room, and they smiled enormous smiles at each other. Tilly said something to the woman next to her, then made her way towards Rose, who was at the table alone.

“Go on then, give me a look,” Rose said.

Tilly held out her hand for Rose to admire a decent sized, beautiful princess cut diamond with smaller diamonds that went all the way around the band. It was perfect, and perfect for Tilly.

Rose pulled her into a hug. “Congratulations, I’m so happy for you, she whispered into Tilly’s ear.”

They pulled apart and held hands.

“Thank you. I’m so glad you were here for this,” said Tilly. 

“So am I,” Rose replied. And she was glad, Tilly deserved all the happiness in the world. “But on that note, would you be mad if I went home now?”

“Of course not,” said Tilly sympathetically. “Get some rest and we’ll celebrate tomorrow. I’ll call John and he’ll be round the front in about five. “

“Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

They hugged again, and Rose headed for the exit, farewelling her friends on the way.

Once she finally made it back to Tilly’s, she struggled into her pyjamas and cocooned herself in her duvet. There had been no texts or missed calls from Ethan and it was finally sinking in that it was the end. One minute he was her best friend, then the next, he’d become a complete stranger.

Her head was pounding again, and her stomach began turning in knots again. She grabbed some painkillers from the bed-side table and downed them with an entire glass of water before finally falling asleep. She slept like the dead until noon the next day, but the headache and nausea were still there.

Perhaps it was time to head home.