a's

cheeks, my vision b

, listening to the boy I thought

casual conversation with friends. The casual cru

canceled dates, the shorter phone calls, the distracted conversa

for my family's expectations, I

y mind, each syllable a

egan's eyes as they met m

pushing through that door, marching across the room, and dumpin

ed gasps, and see the mortification spreading across his

coul

like a weight around my neck. What would my mother

scene crashed down on me, extinguishi

oor, my heart hammering

ded as I retreated down the hallway, search

lcove away from the private rooms, with plush

my palms against my eyes, wi

er solution would be simple: dump him. She'd never understood the compl

would be e

pproving frown, the calculating look in her eyes as

him, Emma," she would say. "Men like Nicholas have opt

ther brought a fresh

o, Victoria had become increasingly distant

a flame, but it was always focused on the same questions: When are you seeing h

means for her to vicariously experience the

financial stability had been precarious for so long after my father's dea

m appeared at my side, sta

order a drink, miss

grateful for

small cocktail

I pointed randomly at som

hilled glass-I took a tentative sip and im

g through my chest was oddly comforting. I took another sip, then

, nursing my drink and staring bl

n better times and the cruel words I'd overheard him say

iced the glass in

from my body, and when I attempted t

he chair, waiting for

here, I thought, fu

id from somewhere to my left. "You l

I didn't recognize stan

ties, with slicked-back hair and an e

trying to step around h

why the hurry? Pretty girl like you, sitting alone in a bar

one made my skin crawl. "

ced his hand on my arm. "Don't be like tha

ith a different

, and I wasn't sure I could maneuv

said she's

t carried an unmistak

eet away, his expression neutral, but his gaze hard