He told me that he wasn't going to get engaged to her.

Maybe he really was complicit in the money laundering. Maybe he WAS just hanging out up north so he could flee to Canada if things got ugly.

And he never intended to stick around, and he never meant that I could come with him. He didn't think of me all those years. I didn't mean anything to him.

Because if he meant any of those things, he wouldn't have gone up on that stage, looked me in the eye, and proposed to that woman.

Who am I kidding, I'm just a small town, smart and lonely girl, and nobody's ever going to choose me over over a beautiful, stupid woman as pretty as a model.

I just just fooling myself this whole time that it was real.

Sad thing is, I believed it was real.

I ran out the back door, paused, turned to see him lip-locking her on the stage in front of the cheering crowd. This was too much for one day.

Damn, has it been just one day?

I made my way outside. The snow looked like it had slowed down a bit, probably downgrading itself from blizzard to just a regular snow storm.

It was dark, but the front of the hotel was lit and had a loading and unloading area, and a place for people to park while they checked in.

The cold air bit into me right away - the temperature had fallen to below zero while I was in there. I didn't think I had a place to stay, though, because I'm sure it would be a bit awkward to stay in his suite.

Can you imagine?

"Hey, honeybun, do you mind if this girl I tricked into fucking me all day sleeps in our guest room?"

Yeah, right.

Across from the entrance were some covered parking spots. Blake was shoveling out the pile of snow in front of the Audi, talking to someone.

I crossed the parking lot and realized it was Celine, the girl from the convenience store.

"Sorry, we don't have free donuts out here," she laughed. Blake just looked at her and then at me.

"I deserve that."

"Yeah, you were mean to me because I wouldn't give you free shit. Not cool."

"You're right. I was wrong."

"Ms. Wendy, is the conference over?"

"You know her?"

"Yes, she's an acquaintance of Mr. Dinero."

Celine didn't believe it.

"It's true, I'm afraid. But, probably and ex-acquaintance now," I said. It was starting to get cold out. "Listen, uh, Blake? Hey, were you ever able to get my car towed here?"

"Yes, ma'-"

"Wendy - just call me Wendy. It's weird that Daryl isn't here and you're calling me ma'am and mizz Wendy," I let out a half-hearted laugh.

"Your car is here, Wendy. A few stalls down. It's in a covered spot but there was so much snow that it drifted right in and covered it up."

"I can't believe you know Daryl Dinero." She shook her head. "Maybe you're not so bad, after all."

"We went to high school together."

"Here?"

"Yeah."

"This high school. This town? Daryl Dinero is from this town? There's no Dinero family from here."

"He changed his name, okay? It was Daryl Daneski. His folks moved after he graduated."

"Hey, sorry about that donut joke just now."

"No, really, I deserved it. You want a free shot at my face? Put me out of my misery?"

She laughed. "Nah. And sorry about not helping you out earlier. I didn't know the snow was going to be this bad."

"I deserved that, too. I'm a complete asshole and everyone hates me. Join the club."

"Are the keys in it?" I looked at Blake and pointed to my car.

"Yes. You might need a jump. It's cold."

"Help a girl out? Again?"

My car door was frozen shut again, but Blake got it open for me. I popped the hood, we hooked up the cables and the car didn't turn over.

"We'll need to give it a minute to build up enough charge. Let's sit in the Audi."

I sat in the back and Celine sat in the front with Blake.

I missed Daryl already. I put my hand on the seat where he sat.

"How do you two know each other?"

"We met earlier today. I got bored at the conference and ran into Blake. He looked as bored as me," she laughed.

"I spend a lot of time waiting around. It's my job."

"Hey, you think this storm has cleared up enough that I can make it home?"

"Where's home?"

I almost said the apartment I shared with Calvin, then remembered that the universe hates me and started this day off with a bang.

"I'm staying with my mom over at Sunnyview trailer park. It's clear across town."

"Is it main roads or back roads?"

"It's right off the highway."

"You should be fine. The plows are keeping the major arteries open. Let's try your car again."

To my amazement, my car turned over slowly but roared to life. I cheered - finally, something went right today. We unhooked the jumper cables and Blake pulled back into his spot.

I let it run until the temperature came up, blasted the heat, and sat staring at the snow for a while, wondering how I got this so wrong.

I was still wearing the dress. "I can't keep this thing," I said to myself. I got out and the car was warmed up enough to thaw the trunk. I put the suitcase in my back seat, got in next to it and fumbled around in the dark until I was able to get dressed. It felt good to be back in my own clothes again.

I left the car on and went back inside to the front desk, asked the clerk to return the dress to Mr. Dinero's suite.

Just as I went back outside, I heard Evelyn's voice. I turned to look - she looked pissed and was marching towards the front door.

I turned and went back to my car.

Huh, maybe this would be a good day after all.