Dim, moody lighting withzy jazz ying.
I spotted the girl behind the bar immediately.
She had perfect makeup, bright pink hair, sliding a lemon wedge onto a ss rim.
I always thought Kaden couldn’t fall for someone so shy.
He used to say he loved how sweet I was-gentle, understanding, like a delicate flower.
I walked up to the bar and said softly.
“Long Ind Iced Tea, please.”
Tessa nced up and gave me a sad smile.
“Coming right up, hun.”
“You look upset.” <fn1> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? findnovel</fn1>
“…Is it that obvious?” She dabbed at her eyes. “The guy I’m crazy about is getting engaged tomorrow.”
“Did you try to stop him?”
She shook her head, stubborn as hell.
“What right do I have? What we had was wrong from the start.”
I took the drink she handed me, voice shaking. “Make another one. This one’s for you.”
Maybe she just needed someone to vent to.
Just one drink was all it took for her to spill everything:
“I knew he had a girlfriend, but I fell for him anyway.”
“I threw myself at him, and he knew… but never said no.”
“When I was drunk, I kissed him. We were both waiting for that moment. He pushed me against the bathroom stall… that was our first time.”
“After, he said he couldn’t betray his fiancée, but when I said I was scared being alone, he still came over.”
I know he stopped loving his girlfriend ages ago. She’s this thirty-year-old woman who dresses like a grandma and can’t even do her makeup right. Can’t Delieve he put up with her for so long.”
“When he told me about the engagement, I cried forever. He just held me the whole time until I fell asleep.”
I must’ve lost it because I went to their ce. He said I was crazy, but we ended up in his bed-the bed he shares with his fiancée. No protection or anything.”
“I didn’t even take the morning-after pill. I thought if I got pregnant, maybe he’d choose me.”
“When he held me, I could feel how much he loved me. If I’d met him first, how could he have chosen that old hag?”
Her eyes were red as she smiled apologetically.
You don’t think I’m awful, do you?”
That moment, I felt like part of my soul had been ripped out.
The pain of betrayal mixed with the humiliation.
When pain gets that intense, you just go numb.
ust then, her phone rang. She checked it and smiled through her tears.
she put in speaker
Kaden’s Voice drifted through
Hans you at the hate I’ming over?
You’re getting engaged tommurow
Em already outside, onest time I just want to hold you.”
By the time kaden walked in, I was already gone
From the street corner, I watched Tessa sterling throw herself into his arms.
Their kiss was desperate and passionate.
pressed my hand to my chest, didn’t do anything else, just turned and walked away.