God, how could I be so stupid? Vanessa berated herself as she pulled into her parking spot.

She swiped absently at the tears rolling down her face as she used her other hand to text her best friend.

911.

Less than a minute later, Ella texted back: I can be there in 5. What’s the sitch?

Enrique is a FUCKING LIAR!

Vanessa took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm her rage.

Be there in 3.

She was too upset to smile, but Vanessa was grateful that she could at least count on one person in her life.

Vanessa got into her condo on autopilot, headed straight for the couch, and pulled an afghan over her head as she curled into a ball. Feelings of betrayal, anger, and hurt battled within her, and she wondered how she’d gotten to this point.

This was why she’d always chosen to focus on her career … These feelings sucked.

Hard.

She heard a key enter the lock, and knew Ella had arrived, using her emergency key rather than knocking.

Vanessa peered over the cover to see her friend bust into the door with a pint of Mint Chocolate Chip in one hand and a handgun in the other.

“Which one do we need?” Ella asked, her face seriously pissed.

Even though she didn’t think anything would be able to make her laugh in this moment, seeing her friend holding a gun did the trick.

“I’m one-hundred percent serious, Van. I don’t know what the hell you’re laughing about,” Ella said, then held the gun out. “This is registered to my ex, so if we need it, I have no issue with putting it to use.”

“Stop,” Vanessa said, holding her sides. “You’re killing me!”

Ella set the ice cream and gun on the coffee table, then sat on the edge of the sofa.

“Tell me.”

“It’s all been a lie. Enrique isn’t an intern, he’s been at the firm doing some sort of investigation for Derek. I overheard him giving his report this morning. He’s been lying to me since the beginning … about who he is, what he does, hell, I don’t even know if Carlos is his actual brother. I’ve never even been to his place.”

“Didn’t you tell me last night that he’d invited you to his place tonight?” Ella asked cautiously. “Maybe he was planning to tell you the truth. What does he do exactly?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, what did he say when you asked him to explain?”

“I didn’t.”

“But, if you didn’t ask him about it, how do you know there isn’t a good explanation for the whole thing.”

Ella knew she’d gone too far when Vanessa’s face got pinched and she shot her a dirty look.

“There is no good explanation for lying to a person throughout your entire relationship,” Vanessa said angrily. “I knew I shouldn’t open myself up for this … Why couldn’t you have just left me alone? Why’d you have to pick him out at that party? So what if I hadn’t had sex in years? So what if I never went on dates? At least I wasn’t falling for a man that doesn’t exist.”

“Honey,” Ella said softly, wiping hair off of Vanessa’s face. “He exists … I’m sorry that you’re hurting, but you can’t live your life the way you were. Just think about how much more alive you felt over the past few weeks. I think you should let Enrique explain.” She paused when Vanessa shot her another look, then treaded gently. “But even if you don’t, I hope you don’t close yourself off and throw yourself back in to the job. I want you to be happy.”

“You know, I didn’t call you over here to take his side…” Vanessa said sulkily.

“I’m not,” Ella assured her. “I’m Team Vanessa for life, I swear. We don’t need this,” she said, pushing the gun away and picking up the ice cream. “But what do you say we put on Magic Mike and eat this? Sound like a plan?”

Vanessa nodded and snuggled back down into the couch and pulled the afghan around her while Ella went to get the movie and a couple of spoons.

They were mesmerized by Channing Tatum’s amazing dance moves when something registered in Vanessa’s brain.

“Don’t you have to work today?”

“Nah, I told them I had a family emergency.”

Vanessa shot her friend a grateful smile, then frowned when a loud knock rapped on the door.

Looking warily at Ella, she watched as her bestie walked to the door and opened it.

“I don’t think she wants to see you right now,” Ella said, and Vanessa could guess who was standing on the other side.

She knew she was right when she heard Enrique reply, “Please, I just want to explain.”

Ella turned to look at Vanessa over her shoulder.

Vanessa pushed back the blanket and stood, then she walked to the door and glanced at Enrique briefly before she slammed it in his face.