“I’m not leaving, if that’s what you’re hinting at,” I said fiercely.

“You’re sure you can face him?”

“He’s not my boss. It’s a big department. I don’t have to deal closely with him if I don’t want to. I can still be professional.”

She frowned. “Mimi. Not that you’re immature or unprofessional, but you’re going to need time to get over what happened.”

“I’ll be just fine. I refuse to let him ruin things for me. I’ve worked too damn hard to earn respect in that job, and I’m so close to that promotion.” I sat back in my chair, swirling the Pinot Grigio in my glass. “I don’t want him to win. He lied and cheated. I know he’ll keep going on with his life like nothing happened between us. He’s just that oblivious. So why should my career suffer if his doesn’t?”

“Damn straight, girl.” She clicked her glass against mine. “Don’t let him determine what happens with your life. You’re the one in control. You call the shots.”

“Why do I feel like I keep running up against the same issues over and over again?” I mused.

“What do you mean?”

“Between this and the bullshit with the buyer in my building.”

“Oh, that.” She waved a dismissive hand. “That doesn’t mean anything.”

“But it reminds me that there are people in the world who think they can do whatever they want. They can force people out of their homes, they can cheat on their girlfriend. Their pregnant girlfriend.”

“Then again, there are people like you who are stronger and better than all that. You’ll come out on top because it’s where you belong.”

“You’re right.”

She cupped a hand around her ear. “I’m sorry? I didn’t hear you.”

“You’re right!”

“As always.”

Our nachos came, and for a little while, there was nothing else in the world except for them. And more wine. Before I knew it, the lunch crowd was long gone and the Happy Hour crowd had started to trickle in. After we’d killed our nachos, we followed it with an order of chicken fingers. We’d also consumed enough wine to make the room spin.

“I guess I should’ve gone back to work,” Megan muttered.

“One of the perks of being a manager,” I grinned, leaning my head on my hand. Everything was awesome. I was in a great mood. I had the best friend in the world, I had a great apartment, I had a great life in the best city in the world. Life was beautiful from where I sat.

Then I stood up, and things got a lot less beautiful. I realized, dimly, somewhere in the teeny tiny corner of my mind where sobriety still existed, that I’d spent the entire afternoon sitting in one spot. I had no idea how drunk I was until I stood up. And then? Oh, boy.

“Shit, I’m wasted.” I heard myself slurring. I told myself to stop slurring, which, of course, only made things worse.

“You want me to take a cab with you?” Megan asked.

“Nah. We’re in opposite directions,” I said, stumbling towards the door. I laughed at myself, then hated myself for laughing. I didn’t like getting this drunk when I was out and about in the world. If I was at a friend’s place and could crash, awesome. Otherwise, I tried to maintain a buzz. Then again, I didn’t normally find out the guy I was ready to become exclusive with had just impregnated his girlfriend. It was a big day of firsts for me.

I managed to get my address right after falling into a cab, which as far as I was concerned was a good step in the right direction. The ride to my building was sort of a blur, during which I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against the closed window. I already imagined calling out the next morning. It would have to be a long-lasting stomach bug. I’d probably sound like hell when I called Tracee, so that was a plus.

Only one problem. When I reached my front stoop and dug through my purse for my keys, my hand touched nothing that resembled keys.

“What the hell?” I muttered, finally sitting down on the steps with my purse spread open. I used my phone’s flashlight to get a better look. Drunkenly, I upended my purse. Huh. Wallet, makeup, tissue, mints.

Then I remembered putting my keys down on my desk that morning, having used the electronic fob on my keychain to get into the building. And I’d never picked them back up.

“Shit! What an idiot?” I cursed my head in my hands. “Damn and hell!” What did I do now? I was wasted on my front stoop with no way to get into my apartment.