I stare out my apartment window, drumming my fingers on the sill. “He left with Michelle.”

“Michelle from your building?” Ashley asks.

“Yes.” I check my tone. No reason to bite Ashley’s head off. “You don’t think that’s who he’s seeing, do you? That would explain why he doesn’t want to tell me her name. He knows I can’t stand her.”

“Don’t go jumping to any conclusions yet. Tell me exactly what you saw.”

“I went to the window.” To watch him leave because I’m completely pathetic. “And he walked out of the building with Michelle. He could have easily picked her up when he left my apartment.”

“Okay, that’s true. Or she was leaving at the same time. Pure coincidence.”

“They talked in the parking lot, and then she got into his truck with him.” I twirl a lock of hair around my finger like I used to when I was a little girl.

“How long did they talk?”

“I don’t know. A few minutes. Not long. They could have been discussing whose car to take.” How did I not see this? It all makes perfect sense. Nate would question a relationship with Michelle because he knows it would be awkward for me. But we live in the same building, so it makes sense that he’d run into her and maybe even develop feelings for her. “What do I do?”

“Nothing. I mean, what can you do? Nate is a grown man. He’ll do what he wants to, and that includes dating who he wants to.”

“But why...?” I can’t bring myself to say it.

“I don’t know why he slept with you. Maybe it was because he was drunk, or maybe he was curious about what it would be like. You two are close. In so many ways, you make sense together. Maybe he wanted to see if there was something there.”

So then him going out with Michelle means there isn’t. The kiss the other night might have triggered his curiosity, and he got it out of his system last night when we slept together. Now he’s free to move on and pursue Michelle. I rub my forehead because thinking about all of this is giving me a headache. Not to mention a heartache.

“I have to go.”

“What are you going to do, Aria?”

“Nothing, like you said. Talk to you tomorrow.” I hang up and lean my head against the glass. It’s warm from the sun beating on it. I take a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before releasing. Ashley has to be right about this. I need to stop acting like a lovesick fool and focus on my new job and being Nate’s best friend, like I’ve always been. Nothing’s changed. Not really.

My phone rings in my hand, and I look down to see David’s name on the screen. “Hey, David. What’s going on?”

“We’re all going out for drinks to celebrate. Come join us.”

“Who’s we?” I ask, even though I know Nate can’t possibly be included since he’s on his date.

“Emily, Mara, Leah, Marty, Becky, Damon... You know, the gang. You in?”

I could sit around here and sulk or go have some drinks with friends. “I’m there. Which bar?”

“Last Call. Where else?”

With all the bars in Priority, everyone still ends up at Last Call. It’s gotten quite the reputation as the “It” place, which is fine by me since I can walk there if need be.

“I’ll get ready and see you there.”

“Yes, Madam Editor.”

I laugh because I can picture him saluting even though we’re on the phone. I hang up, take a quick shower, and reapply my makeup. I opt for comfy clothes, capri jeans and a cute black top that’s flowy and very summery in every way but color. I’m out the door and walking to Last Call thirty minutes later.

David spots me when I enter and yells, “Hey! It’s the lady of the hour!” He rushes over and gives me a one-armed hug. “Look, everybody, it’s the woman who saved us all from graying prematurely at the hands of Oliver Strauss. A toast!” He raises the pint glass in his hand, the contents sloshing all over but luckily not spilling since he already drank most of it. “To Aria!”

“Hear, hear!” Emily says. Her eyes linger on David’s arm, which has lowered and is draped around my waist.

I step away from him and join the group at the bar. Caleb comes over with a huge smile on his face. “Nate told me about your promotion.”

“He did?” When did he have time? Unless he called Caleb before I got back to my apartment this afternoon.

“Of course. He’s proud of you. I am, too. You drink on the house tonight.” He hands me a Corona Light, which I’m grateful for since I’m not looking to get trashed. I’ve had enough of that lately, and it hasn’t done me any good.

“Thanks, Caleb.”

He looks around. “So where is Nate? I thought he’d be arriving with you.” He wipes a spill caused by Emily, who is acting like a drunken coed to get David’s attention.

“He has a date,” I say, quickly taking a sip of my beer.

“Oh, lime!” Caleb grabs a lime from a container behind the bar and sticks it in the top of my Corona.

“Thanks.” I push it down but don’t do my thumb trick.

“I didn’t realize Nate had a date tonight. He forgot to mention it when we talked.”

“Yeah, well, I think that’s because he’s dating Michelle from my building.”

Caleb’s brow furrows. “Michelle is here.” He points over my head, and I turn to see Michelle sitting at a table in back with two other women.

Then Nate’s not dating her. Ashley was right. They just happened to be leaving the apartment building at the same time. Knowing Nate, he offered to drive her so she didn’t have to walk in those heels she always insists on wearing.

I suppress a smile as I turn back to Caleb. “I guess I was wrong. He won’t tell me who he’s seeing. I assumed it was Michelle.”

“Nate wouldn’t date a woman like Michelle. She’s too in-your-face. With everyone, not just men. It’s like she’s running for mayor or something, except her way of shaking hands is more like groping your arm or sticking her fake boobs in your face.”

I laugh, which feels great after the weekend I’ve had. “I always liked you, Caleb.”

“Hey, now. I’m engaged.” He winks to show he’s only teasing. “Though I keep telling Nate he should scoop you up before someone else does. You’re quite the catch, Aria Carmichael.” He points to the group of writers and editors I’m with. “These guys know it, too.”

“These scrubs?” I scoff.

“Hey,” Becky, one of the news staff writers, protests. “You love us and you know it.”

“I do. I can’t deny it. I work with the best writers in Priority.”

“And one giant ass by the name of Oliver,” Marty pipes in. “Did you have to get him promoted? Now I’m going to have to put up with him being my boss instead of the other way around.” Marty’s the news editor and the person Oliver formerly reported to.

“I’m sorry, Marty, but it wasn’t my doing. Mr. Monohan made that decision.”

Marty scoffs. “Let’s be honest. Marjorie Strauss made that decision.”

“Can’t argue with you there.” Something sharp sticks me in my right eye. “Ugh, eyelash. Would you excuse me for a second?” I make my way through the group and to the restroom, blinking in the process to try to dislodge the eyelash from my iris, where it’s currently camped out.

“Aria.”

I stop at the sound of Aaron’s voice, and at that moment my eye tears, removing the eyelash. I turn to face Aaron with the tear trickling down my cheek.

“Hey, don’t cry.” He reaches for my cheek, brushing the pad of his thumb against it.

I jerk back. “I had an eyelash.” I swipe at my cheek, drying it. “What do you want, Aaron?”

“To talk. I heard you were promoted again. That paper is very finicky with their promotions. Taking them back and then reinstating them. You should think about applying to a larger paper. Now that you have ‘editor’ attached to your name, I’m sure you could land something better.”

I cross my arms. “My journalism career doesn’t really concern you.”

This time it’s his head that jerks back. “Just trying to look out for my girl.”

“I’m not your girl. Haven’t been for a while. Though I met her in the restroom the last time I was here.”

“I know. I heard all about it. You tried to talk her into ditching me because you want me back.”

“What?” My voice cracks and my arms drop to my sides. “That’s absurd!”

“Why else would you try to sabotage my date?” He steps into me, backing me against the wall near the restrooms. “You wanted to get her out of the picture so the path would be clear for us to get back together.”

I shove him hard in the chest. “Aaron, let’s be clear about something; I wouldn’t take you back if the future of the human race depended on it.”

“Everything okay here?” David asks over Aaron’s shoulder.

Aaron glares at me. “Did he tell you to stay away from me?”

I narrow my eyes. “David doesn’t even know you, though I’m sure he can already tell you’re an ass.”

“Yeah, that’s coming through loud and clear.” David steps around Aaron to me. “Come on, Aria. Everyone is looking for you.” Knowing I don’t like others to fight my battles, David refrains from doing anything to undermine my power in the situation, like offering his hand or draping an arm around my shoulders. Instead, he says, “I’m not sure this guy can take any more of what you’re handing him either.” David looks Aaron up and down. “You’re looking a little pale. Maybe you should hit the restrooms before you puke up your dignity right here in front of everyone.”

“He’d have to have dignity for that to happen,” I say, pushing past Aaron and not looking back.

“Damn. Remind me never to get on your bad side,” David says as we return to the bar. The smile on his face shows how impressed he is with how I handled Aaron.

“Clearly, I was drunk when I met him and decided he was boyfriend material.”

“Yeah, you really shouldn’t make any life-altering decisions when you’re drunk.” He laughs, but his comment strikes a chord with me.

I’ve come on to Nate twice now while drunk. And he’s off on a date at this very moment. No, I definitely shouldn’t make any more life-altering decisions when I’ve been drinking.