I honk at the car in front of me and grumble again. I’ve never been late to an event, and while Catherine and others from the team are there to ensure things go off without a hitch, this event means more because of Levi.

I pay fifty dollars to park and then run in my heels the three blocks to get to the bar, my breaths too fast and my hair flat as I reach the bar. The exterior has been cleaned, a new handrail installed that has planter boxes which are overflowing with greenery and clear fairy lights. A plaque is attached near the door, matte black with gold letters. It looks classy and subtle, much like Levi.

“You’re good. You made it,” Andrea says, holding open the front door for me. “Everything is perfect. People didn’t even blink at spending forty dollars to park, and everyone is raving about the food and how great it looks. They love it.” Her smile gives me an assurance her words can’t, because it’s genuine. There have only been a few occasions Andrea has participated in helping, but with this being Catherine’s son and us being short on staff, it’s all hands on deck tonight.

“The music’s working? And the air? It’s not too hot?”

Andrea shakes her head, pushing her glasses up higher. “It’s perfect. You’ve outdone yourself.”

I release a deep breath, my shoulders falling with the assurance. “How’s Catherine doing?”

She waves a hand, but her smile falters. “Don’t worry about her. Not tonight.”

I draw my chin back. “Did something happen?”

Andrea quickly shakes her head. “No. Nothing like that. She’s just … frazzled. She’s been looking all over for you. I’m supposed to call her when you arrive.”

“That’s not a good sign. Are you sure everything’s okay?”

She nods. “I think she’s just overwhelmed. She doesn’t know if she should be wearing her mom hat or business owner hat or sales hat.”

I nod, swiping at my hair. “Yeah,” I say. “You’re probably right.”

Andrea grabs my wrist before I can run my fingers over my hair again. “You look great. Why don’t you go find a drink and some of those appetizers? I’ll give you a ten-minute buffer before calling Catherine to let her know you’ve arrived.”

“This place is small. She’ll likely see me.”

She shrugs. “It’s busy and she’s distracted. It’s worth a shot.”

“Thank you.”

She smiles in return. It’s warm and friendly, exposing a kinship that makes me hesitate a moment to reciprocate the expression.

Inside, the bar is packed. The lights are brighter than they’ll be on a normal night when we’re not trying to show off how shiny and new everything is. Music streams quietly from the speakers, and I recognize the song instantly as something chosen by Levi.

People are chatting and drinking and eating, smiling as they mill around the space. It looked beautiful yesterday, but somehow it looks even better with people inside and bartenders wielding bottles, making the set concoctions.

A voice clears, and the music stops. It’s a woman’s voice. Panic has me wading through a group of people who stop and turn toward the sound as well. I pray Catherine didn’t find a microphone.

My breath catches in my throat, shock nailing me to the floor. Gabe’s standing in the middle of the room, his arm around his new girlfriend—the woman he left me for—who’s holding the microphone as the audience begins to clap and whistle. My confusion draws me closer, questioning why they’re here and how I didn’t know that they would be. I planned this event. Every name on every invitation went through me.

“I know you all prefer when Levi has the mic because he enjoys making bad business decisions like opening the bar or promising you VIP passes and invites to dinner—which, by the way, he never—ever—cashes in.” She raises a delicate finger, her nails polished a pale shade of pink. “Seriously, never cashes in on, so don’t hold your breath.” The audience laughs. “But because my business partner has endured opening this location all by himself while I’ve been in the midst of planning my wedding”— she pauses again, this time to look at Gabe with adoration, earning more whistles from the raucous crowd—“I thought I’d give him a break and save us a few thousand dollars.” She winks, owning the reaction of everyone in here—everyone except for me because I can’t stop staring at her and Gabe, the memory of finding them having sex in my bed cutting into the present scene like flashbacks from a bad dream. I’m too hot, and I’m pretty sure that has to do with the tightness in my chest that’s preventing me from being able to breathe.

“I want to thank you all for coming out tonight, and joining us as we celebrate this new bar. I…”

I stop listening. My thoughts are hazy because my emotions are so strong—emotions that I’m feverishly working to suppress and control.

I shrug past several people, my head down as I ignore the responsibility of finding Catherine or Levi, of ensuring things are going as expected and without any delays. I ignore that the mic should be turned down and the air up and make my way back toward the entrance.

Andrea’s face falls as she sees me, and her mouth opens. I know she’s going to ask me if I’m okay, but I also know I can’t talk right now. I shake my head as I pass her.

“Can I?” she begins. “Want me to walk you? Get a cab?”

I shake my head again. “I’m okay,” I have to look away because the concern that has her brow pulled low, causes a flood of tears to burn my eyes.

I don’t see faces as I pass people on the sidewalk. All I can focus on is the pain in my chest. It feels as though my heart was fileted open. Like my lungs have been punctured. Betrayal sits on my shoulders like a led weight, urging me to run away and to go back to the bar and confront Levi, all at the same time.

When I reach my car, my face is wet from tears, and my cheeks are stained with mascara and eyeliner. I use my palms to wipe at the mess, pulling in another breath and holding it to gain composure. My heartbeats are loud and violent in my chest. Without the distraction and focus of reaching my car, my thoughts slip back to the bar, hearing that woman’s voice, seeing her smile from her spot beside Gabe.

Levi’s business partner.

Gabe’s fiancée.

How?

How is the world so small that this could have happened?

More importantly, why didn’t anyone tell me?

My shoulders shudder, and my heart breaks, and then the tears multiply, falling so fast, they coat my cheeks with hot paths that feel cool as they fall from my jaw. I don’t even attempt to wipe at them or stop.

My phone rings in my purse, sparking anger. It’s likely Catherine, wondering where in the hell I am. Realization has my anger growing. She knew. She likely knew all along.

I tear through my purse, digging for my phone before it stops ringing, discovering it is indeed Catherine. I want to answer and scream at her, but instead silence the call and throw it at my passenger door with enough force that it bounces back and nearly hits the middle console. Then I hit the steering wheel and scream. It feels good and terrible. Nice to release some of this pain and anger, and awful because I realize how it’s consuming me.

I cry with no intention of stopping. Tears of frustration and pain, guilt and sorrow. My nose is running, my eyes and cheeks are swollen, and my head aches when I finally stop. I don’t want to be in this dress. I don’t want to be in these heels. I just want to lie down and sleep for a week.

I consider going to Grammy’s, but even Grammy is bound to ask me questions with how I look. I pray that Felicity and Dan are still at the grand opening, and I can slip past them and lock myself in the guestroom. I can send her a text and tell her I’m not feeling well, and face her tomorrow.

The plan allows me to breathe a little easier. I pull my hair out of my face with an elastic, and use some tissues to blow my nose and wipe at my smeared makeup. Then, glance around twice before backing up to ensure I don’t hit anyone.

The ride home goes by in a blur. Images of Levi over the past couple of months playing a dangerous game of Russian Roulette with my mood and emotions. Some of the memories barely cause a reaction, while others make me choke on a new flood of tears. I shove thoughts of him aside and think of Gabe, wondering what he thought. Did he know about Levi and me? He had to have. Then I wonder what their interactions were like. What they thought of one another.

When I get home to Felicity’s, I take my shoes off as I get out of the car, my thoughts and emotions tethered by my refusal to cry another tear over Gabe. He didn’t deserve the previous ones and certainly doesn’t deserve more.

The door opens before I reach the stoop. Felicity stands before me with her arms open wide. “I’ve been calling you.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself and my emotions. “Sorry. I silenced it.”

She nods, stepping outside to meet me. “I was trying to catch you. I saw you leaving, and wanted to drive you home, because…” Her words trail off. “I’m so sorry, Books. I’m so sorry.” She hugs me, and as much as I don’t want to, I lean into her, needing the support and comfort she freely extends.

My efforts to remain unaffected and impartial break as she holds me tighter, breaking the dam of emotions inside of me open once again. My shoes slip from my fingers, falling to the front stoop with a crash I don’t hear over the eruption of my tears.

Felicity’s fingertips press against my back as she pulls me closer. “She’s his business partner?”

I shake my head, unable to get words past the same lump that’s been in my throat since I saw Gabe and his fiancée. Tears stream down my face in hot paths, and my shoulders bob with cries. Felicity holds me tight, running a hand through my hair like I’ve seen her do with Gemma when she’s upset—something she’s done for me since we were kids. My best friend has always had mothering tendencies: reminding me to bring a sweater, asking me if I was hungry, focusing on my education and later on my needs, confirming I was addressing things for my mental and emotional health. She has a million positive attributes, but her ability to care for others and her compassion are two of the things I’m most envious about. I hope that if I ever have children, I’ll be just like her.

As my tears wane, Felicity’s hold doesn’t loosen, not for several more moments. Then she pulls back, running a hand down my arm and capturing my hand. She tugs me inside, directing us into the living room. We stop at the overstuffed sofa that faces the TV. She only turns away long enough to grab a box of tissues. Stray tears continue streaming down my face as I sit beside her, gathering my thoughts.

“Did Levi know he was your ex?” Her voice is timid and soft.

“He had to. I mean, he met Gabe. That night I got the flat tire on my way to Tennessee.”

“Wow.” Felicity wipes a hand down her face and pulls in a deep breath. “And he didn’t say anything about it?”

I shake my head, the movement a small, lazy shift because my head is throbbing from crying.

“Brooke … I…”

I work to give her a small smile, something that offers her reassurance because I know my best friend is feeling as much guilt as she is anger. “I’m not mad.” The skin between my eyes grows tight as my brow furrows with thought. “Okay, I am mad, but I don’t want to be. I’m done being sad and mad. I’ve decided I’m going to accept the job. I’m moving to California.”

Felicity pauses, her eyes growing in size. “You should wait until morning. Make sure this decision isn’t because of them and is solely about you and what you want.”

“I will. But it just seems right. You talk about these signs from the universe all the time, and if there was ever a sign, this would be it. I’ve been given the opportunity to walk away clean. I’ll make more money, I’ll be doing something I love, and it gives me a clean break from Catherine and Gabe and Levi.”

“Let’s just wait and discuss it when you haven’t been hit by a proverbial two by four.”

“There’s nothing to discuss.”

“There’s a ton to discuss.”

“I’m going.”

“What about Grammy? Your job? Your brother? What about me?”

“What about what I want? I can’t stay here. What if I run into him? I can’t face him, Felicity. My heart feels like it went to war with a cheese grater and lost. There I can start over. I can be whoever I want to be and do something I enjoy. I won’t have to deal with crazy brides or my crazier boss. I won’t have to sleep in your guestroom or see my ex when I pick up coffee.”

Tears swim in her eyes, but neither of us addresses them. The tears for us being in separate states will come, and like a tsunami, they will bring fears, doubts, and uncharted conditions. “Can we just … not make a definite plan tonight?”

“I’ve already made up my mind,” I tell her.

“Maybe you should reach out to Levi. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m on your side all the way, but maybe he has a reason.”

“I’m sure he has a dozen. I just don’t think I’ll be able to accept any of them.”

Felicity rubs her lips together, nodding.

I stand and extend a hand to her, helping her up. “It’s late. I need to take a shower, and then sleep. My head’s killing me.”

She stares at me, reluctance leaves her motionless.

“I don’t want to argue. Not tonight.”

She nods, wiping at a tear that falls down her cheek. “Let’s get some sleep, and we can talk tomorrow.”

We trudge up the stairs, my head pounding with each step. I hug her when we reach the top. A thousand sentiments are shared between us, ones we don’t have to convey or translate because we each understand them by the tightness of our grips and reluctance to pull away. “Sleep well,” I tell her when we finally separate.

“You, too.”

I head to the bathroom first, taking a long shower so the steam will help my headache. My stomach growls as I dress in pajamas, but I ignore the pains of hunger and get dressed in some sweats, not caring about drying my hair.

As I drop my laundry in my room, there’s a knock on the front door that leaves me frozen. It’s too late to be anyone else.

At the doorway, I see Dan coming out of their bedroom wearing a pair of gym shorts, struggling to get a T-shirt on.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Are you sure?”

I nod. “Positive.”

Reluctance shines in his eyes. “If you need me—”

“I’ll be fine.”

There’s another knock on the door that has me speeding up to reach it. I flip on the lights and pull the door open to discover Levi in a pair of dark jeans and a blue dress shirt. “Brooke,” he says, his eyes searching my face, likely discovering evidence of my tears and heartbreak. “Please, let me explain.” Sorrow mars his brow.

“You lied to me. You knew he was marrying your business partner.”

Levi shakes his head in quick, short jerks. “Not initially.”

“But you knew, and you didn’t tell me.”

He swallows, the column of his neck bobbing. I wonder if it’s regret or more omissions he’s working to suppress.

“How am I supposed to trust you when you couldn’t even tell me this?”

“I knew you’d be upset.”

“Of course I’d be upset! My ex had an affair with your business partner! You’ve seen him. You know him.”

“Who cares about him?”

I shake my head, recalling Levi having to leave to go to dinner with his business partner and fiancé on more than one occasion.

“I didn’t know what to do. I had no idea when I met you that you had any connection to him. I didn’t know he had another girlfriend. When I found out, I told Haley to break it off, that he’d do it again.”

I pull my head back, the slap of his words still fresh on my skin, making me wince. “You went to her when you found out instead of to me?”

Levi closes his mouth, searching my face for something I doubt he’ll discover because all I feel is anger and betrayal building up like a wall between us.

“It was so they’d break up, not to conspire against you.”

“Well, you did. You conspired against me when you made the decision not to be forthcoming and honest with me.”

“Brooke, I never meant to… I had no idea she was coming tonight. As soon as she showed up, I was looking everywhere for you.”

“But that’s the problem: you didn’t care until you were forced to.”

“Of course I cared! Brooke, I’ve been going out of my mind trying to figure out how to tell you.”

“Yeah, I could tell last night.” My tone has turned sarcastic and cold, just like my demeanor.

“I’m not him. Don’t let him ruin what we have.”

“Had,” I correct him. “You ruined what we had. Not him. I told you how hard it is for me to trust others.”

“She’s my business partner. I was stuck between a rock and a hard spot.”

“You mean money and sex?”

Levi drops his head back, emotion rolling off of him in waves, threatening to break my resolution. “I fucked up. I should have told you, I know. I just didn’t know how. I feel like I’ve been wrestling with so many thoughts and emotions since I found out, and by the time I did, I already loved you.”

I shake my head in short, angry jerks. “No. You don’t get to throw around words like that in situations like these. It screams of insincerity and lies. You knew. You made your decision, and so have I. I’m moving to LA.”

He rocks back on his heels as though my words are a physical force, hitting him in the stomach. “It’s not a lie, and it’s not insincere, dammit! Since the first moment I saw you, I’ve been drawn to you. Your humor, your kindness, your fucking smile—I hate when you’re not around. I hate that my pillows don’t smell like you after my house cleaner changes the sheets. And I absolutely hate the days I don’t get to see you.”

“You’re not Heath Ledger, and I’m not Julia Stiles. We aren’t doing this.”

“I didn’t do this to hurt you. I was trying to find the right way to tell you so it wouldn’t hurt you. Can’t you understand that?”

“No. I can’t. Because this isn’t the first time someone’s lied to me and told me it was for my own good without asking for my opinions or what I wanted.” I shake my head, my breaths becoming labored. “You need to leave.”

“This is it? This is how it ends? Complete and total indifference? Scream at me. Tell me I’m an asshole. Make me beg—make me work to gain your trust back. I’ll do it. I will do anything.”

I shake my head. “At least we’re original, right? We aren’t breaking up because one of us cheated.”

“Brooke, just … think about it, okay? Give it a couple of days. Please?” He reaches forward, his hand clasping mine. I don’t feel the same heat—the energy that was there just hours ago. Instead, it feels like a trap.

“I don’t need to think about it.”

His hand constricts. “Brooke—”

The door opens behind me, additional light from the house flooding us. I turn, expecting it to be Felicity, but find Dan, his arms crossed over his chest and his nostrils flared. I have no idea what Felicity told him, but it’s apparent he knows I’ve broken up with Levi.

I take a step back, and Levi’s arm stretches farther, his grip remaining.

“I think you should go,” Dan says, his arm going around my shoulders.

“I just need—”

“Hope,” I say. “You want hope, and I can’t give that to you. You shouldn’t want it anyway—hope is crueler than honesty.”

“Brooke…”

I shake my head. “Good luck with the bar.”

His hand falls, and Dan closes the door, locking it behind us. He doesn’t offer any advice or make an attempt to console me, which I appreciate even more than his assistance in peeling off the rest of the Band-Aid and ending things with Levi. At the top of the stairs, we part; he goes left, and I go right to the guest bedroom. The door clicks shut behind me, and the numbness cracks as one tear falls, followed by a million more.

The door opens, and I don’t have to turn to know it’s Felicity. She closes the door behind her, and within moments she’s next to me, rubbing my back and my hair with the same motherly fashion she’s been using since we were girls, back when I experienced my first heartbreak.