Haley dabbed one more stripe of color on her toenail then extended her leg, rolling her foot from side-to-side and studying her handiwork. "What do you think?"

"It's, uh, definitely bright." There was a definite lack of enthusiasm in Megan's voice, which only made Haley laugh.

"Of course it's bright. That's the whole point." She put the cap back on the bottle of nail polish then grabbed her glass of wine and took a sip.

"But it's green."

"Not just any green. It's neon lime green."

"But on your toes?"

"Yeah. I always like funky colors on my toes."

"Why? It's not like anyone actually sees your feet."

"I don't do it for anyone else. I do it for me. And I like bright colors on my feet."

Megan frowned, uncertainty clear on her face. "If you say so. I still don't get it."

Haley swallowed back the flare of impatience that threatened to bubble to the surface. "It doesn't matter if you get it or not. My feet, my choice."

"True." She glanced at her own feet, the nails polished a pale pink, then shrugged and reached for the bottles of polish sitting on the low table.

They were in the club basement of Megan's house, dressed in pajamas and watching movies. At least, a movie was playing in the background. Neither one of them was paying much attention to it. They were too busy doing their nails and talking and laughing.

Almost like they were having a slumber party.

No, nothing almost about it. They were having a slumber party. Haley almost rolled her eyes at the thought. She was twenty-two—just a little old to be having a slumber party. But whatever. Between Megan's relationship with Jason and Haley's problems with Jimmy, they hadn't had much chance to hang out recently. Megan was her closest friend—probably her only real friend—and she missed hanging out with her.

So what if watching movies and painting their nails in the basement of Megan's parents' house wasn't exactly what Haley considered a wild night out? She was still having fun.

Mostly.

Megan grabbed three bottles from the table and held them up. "Which color do you want for your fingernails?"

"Just clear."

"You don't want them to match?"

"God, no. That would be boring."

Megan snorted. "Like clear polish isn't?"

Haley laughed. Okay, so she had a point. But Haley never used anything but clear polish on her fingernails. She kept her nails trimmed short—not that she really had a choice about it. She was too rough on her hands and learned a long time ago that long nails weren't for her.

Haley held her hands up and wiggled her fingers. "Does it look like I could get away with color on these? No. Just clear."

Megan's smile disappeared. She grabbed one of Haley's hands and tugged as a frown creased her face. She wasn't looking at Haley, though—she was studying the ring of fading bruises circling Haley's wrist.

Haley pulled her arm from Megan's grasp and pretended to study the different bottles lined up on the table. Her body tensed and she barely dared to breathe, wondering if Megan would say something again.

No, probably not. She never pushed the issue before, why would she now? Especially since Haley was no longer seeing Jimmy.

"I hate him."

The quiet anger in Megan's voice surprised her. Haley reached for her wine and drained it, then forced a bright smile to her face. "It doesn't matter. It's over."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"You said that before. Right after the first time."

"I know. I mean it this time." And she did. Haley had never meant anything more but the look on Megan's face told her she wasn't convinced. It wasn't like Haley could tell her why; she couldn't tell her best friend what had happened a few weeks ago, the last time she had seen Jimmy.

She couldn't tell her what he'd done. How enraged he'd become when she broke it off. How he grabbed her. How he had tried forcing himself on her and how she had fought him off. How he swore she would pay. How the bruises on her wrists weren't the only the marks he'd left on her that day.

Marks that nobody else could see because she was able to hide them.

Fair enough. She wasn't the only one with marks. She'd been able to leave a few herself.

And she certainly couldn't tell Megan that Jimmy was still trying to call her. Still sending her messages.

Apologizing for what he'd done.

Asking for her forgiveness.

Threatening her when she didn't respond.

Taunting her when she ignored him.

Promising her it wasn't over.

"I never liked him."

"I know."

"I should have done something. I should have—"

"Megan, stop. There was nothing you could do."

"Yeah, there is. I should have told Jason."

"Yeah, like Mr. Freaky-Eyes would have been able to do something."

Megan frowned but ignored the jab. "He would have. Him and Zach and—"

"It's none of their business, okay? It's nobody's business. I told you that."

Megan kept talking as if Haley hadn't spoken. "Or I could have told my dad. He used to be a cop, you know that. He could have—"

"No. Absolutely not." Haley shook her head, fear slicing through her at the image of Mr. Bradley going after Jimmy. "Megan, it's over, okay? I don't want anyone knowing about it. It's done. There's nothing to worry about anymore."

Megan's mouth snapped closed and her lips flattened into a thin line. Haley held her breath, waiting. Would Megan keep talking about it, or finally let it go like Haley asked?

She finally blew out a short breath, one filled with impatience and disbelief. "Fine. It's over. I won't tell anyone. But if I see him again, or if you even think of getting back with him—"

"I'm not. No way in hell."

Megan studied her for a few long seconds, no doubt gauging the truth of Haley's words. She must have seen exactly what Haley was thinking and feeling because she sighed again and pushed off the sofa. 

"Fine." Megan tossed her the bottle of clear polish then grabbed their empty glasses. "Do you want some more wine? There's cheese and crackers upstairs, too."

"Sure, why not? We're not going anywhere." Haley waited for her to leave then drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs.

God, she'd been such a fool. And stupid. How had she been so stupid? How had she let herself be drawn in by Jimmy's phony charm? She should have never given in after the first time he'd hit her, should have seen his apology for exactly what it was: more lies and bullshit.

Embarrassment filled her at the memory of what she'd allowed, at how much she had wanted to believe him. Why? That's what she still didn't understand. She knew better, had sworn to herself that she would never let a man hit her.

Had promised herself that she would never be like her mother, so desperate for love and attention that she'd make excuses each time she got smacked around. First by Haley's father, then by the long string of losers who came after him.

Excuses, always making excuses. Always shouldering the blame herself.

And Haley had grown up, swearing she would never put up with that. Promising herself she would never be that weak. She was stronger than her mother. Something like that would never happen to her.

And then it did.

And she'd made excuses for Jimmy, telling herself it was a fluke. Believing his apology. Believing him when he said it would never happen again.

Or a third time. Or a fourth or a—

Haley squeezed her eyes closed and sucked in a deep breath. She was making excuses, just like her mother.

Well, not anymore. She'd learned her lesson. And she'd be damned if she ever fell into that trap again.

"You're not sleeping, are you?"

Haley jerked upright and pasted a smile on her face. "Of course not. It's still early."

"Yeah, if you want to call midnight early." Megan placed a tray loaded down with a large plate of munchies and a fresh bottle of wine on the table then walked toward the entertainment center. "What movie do you want to watch next?"

Haley didn't want to watch anything but she didn't tell Megan that. "I don't care. Something light, I guess."

"How about Beauty and the Beast?"

"Animated or live action?"

"Both."

Haley refilled her wine glass then gave it some thought. "Live action."

"Perfect!" A wide grin spread across Megan's face. She popped the DVD in then hurried back to the sofa and took her seat next to Haley. "I love this movie."

Of course she did, Haley thought. Megan was living her own version of a fairy tale, head-over-heels in love with her very own Prince Charming. Not that Haley would ever consider Jason a prince. Or charming, for that matter. But in some weird way, they belonged together. They were meant for each other.

And Haley was happy for her best friend, she really was.

That didn't mean she wasn't just a little bit envious.

Which was ridiculous. Haley knew better than to believe in fairy tales. There was no such thing as Prince Charming. No such thing as happily-ever-after.

They didn't exist in her world.

They never would.