Page 102 of Everything She Wanted

“You seem preoccupied lately.”

“Oh, it’s just been a lot, you know, work plus engagement stuff.”

“Such a hard life, getting engaged to the man of your dreams, making waves at the office. Poor you,” she says with a dramatic emphasis that helps me instantly lighten up.

“I know, first-world problems, right?” We giggle like schoolgirls, and it’s nice to laugh.

The waitress brings our drinks.

“Cheers.” Jess brings her glass to mine.

“To new opportunities,” I say, giving her a knowing look.

She sets her drink down and stares off into the distance, something catching her eye.

“Guess who just showed up.” Her eyes twinkle.

“Who? You know I can’t keep up with your online dating guys.”

“Not that. It’s Nick with a hot brunette. I mean, she’s like holy shit, gorgeous.”

I bristle, but my masochistic tendencies make me look over. There he is, back to his immaculate self, standing next to a woman who looks like she walked out of an Instagram Reel. She’s all done up, with a top so tight and low I wonder how she can breathe. Her lips are unnaturally full, and so is her bust.

My heart constricts, and the familiar humiliation—that I spent the last week trying to bury—resurfaces. I can tell by the way she’s looking at him that this is a date. It hasn’t even been that long since the fiasco in Seattle, but clearly, he has already moved on.

Of course he has.

“Oh,” I say nonchalantly, even as my heart plummets to the ground. I’ve been such a fucking fool for him.

“Interesting, right? I’ve always wondered what kind of women he’s into.”

I don’t respond, lost in my self-imposed anguish. He can do whatever he wants with whomever. He is single after all, unlike me.

“So, anyways, tell me more about Matt and how you’re going to set us up.” She’s thankfully oblivious to how distracted I am. “Talk to Maintenance and trap us in the elevator?” I force myself to laugh. “Or—I know!—you set up a meeting for the three of us and then don’t show.”

I gulp down the last bit of my drink and order another.

“Actually, I was just thinking we could all go for drinks sometime, and then you could get to know each other better.”

“That works too, even though I was really hoping for the elevator.” Her light energy makes me smile even as my dignity shatters.

“Great. I’ll plan something for us soon.”

“Yay. In the meantime, I’ll shoot come-hither vibes his way.” She winks at me.

“You’re too much, you know.” I manage to make my voice sound normal even though I’m reeling inside. Red-hot rage mixing with shame. Both are threatening to consume me.

“You love it,” she chides. Then, switching tone, she says, “OMG, she’s moving closer to him.” I just can’t take the play-by-play anymore as the familiar feeling of anxiety returns to my chest. I have to get out of here.

“I need to get going,” I say in a rush, trying to keep my voice cool.

“Oh, come on. Already? We’ve only had two drinks.”

“I’m meeting Shaan in a bit,” I lie, again.

“Another round?” The waitress comes by, answering my silent plea.

“Just the bill, please.”