TER

a's

ning thos

lly letting go of Harrison. But instead, I felt nothing. Just this numb we

picked up my phone. Maddie's name

ssed

up immediat

er voice, the dam in

sitting on the edge of t

hon

e sitting up or grabbing her

I d

to the photo, to the park, to signing the divorce papers. I tried t

't sugarcoat

aid bluntly. "And Harrison is a foo

stupid. I kept thinking I w

a liar. You gave your heart to someone who didn't deserve it. Tha

ld back the fresh wave of emotion. "I

ther end before she said,

ked. "

nge of scene, some loud music, maybe a drink-or five. You can't

sita

n feel like putting on

know if I

you have to fake it. Just for one night. Be Lena before

, shaky laugh. "I

e it's time

or, slipping on a deep burgundy dress I hadn't worn in years. It hugged my curves

some loose waves. It wasn't much, but when I looked at myself

at was t

as already waiting in the driveway. She rolle

ok like sin and sor

al this time. "Y

diculously righ

me, filling the silence with stories from work, gossip from mutual friend

n, "if I ever see Harrison in public, I'll

t have to

es to feel half the s

ile fading just a little. "What

over to squeeze my hand. "Then you walk awa

't recognize-dark lights, thumping mu

id, dragging me by the h

rse sh

e moved on the dance floor like they were chasing something.

r, and Maddie ordered sho

she said, ho

against hers, and w

turned

into

ddie pull me into the crowd, let strangers brush past me, let th

ace didn't

e's phone lit up. Her

wrong?"

st got into a car accident. Nothing major, but

mmediately. "S

er lip. "You

der a cab. I just

tight hug. "Text me the seco

wil

n she w

a soft sigh. The room spin just a little,

d someone slide into

over the counter to get the bartender'

ey. Do

that made my stomach flutter, not polished like Harrison, but rough ar

eat taken?

ok my

id, nodding toward t

ed smile. "Somet

skey, eyes still on mine

N

ai

se. Then he sai

en

s job, how he hated Mondays, and how he once

ore than I

it was the way he looked at me-like I was interesting, l

nk and a shared plate of fries,

was

ld stop it, his