I sighed. “Fine, but don’t say or do anything that will embarrass me.”

“I wonder why he’s still unattached.”

“Maybe he’s got a dead girl in his closet that he cuddles every night.”

“Don’t be silly. Maybe he’s been burned in the past. You know how that feels.”

“Or maybe he’s obsessed with his mother and no woman will ever measure up.”

She laughed. “He’s probably too busy for a relationship, or he’s waiting for someone as special as you to come along.”

“Or the truth. He’s a serial womanizer.”

“Not everything has to be so serious, Mimi. It’s okay for you to have a little fun, you know.”

“I can have fun without sex, thanks. Sex with Josh is what got me into this mess. I followed my sex drive and look where it got me.” I looked into my best friend’s eyes, reflected over my head. “Please, let me heal up a little before I get back out there, okay.”

“Of course. You do what feels good to you. I shouldn’t push you like I do. I just want you to be happy.”

I reach back and touch her hand. “I know you want what’s best for me.”

“I love you, Mimi.”

“I know. I love you too, Megan.”

She laughed. “Geez. How the hell did we get here?”

I laughed too. “No idea, but you know what would make me happy right now?”

“What?”

“A whole carton of chocolate ice cream and a pack of cigarettes.”

“You haven’t smoked since graduation.”

“It’s never too late to restart a bad habit. I have to do something for my nerves and I can’t chew on my nails since I just got them done.”

“Just relax and let me work my magic.”

And she did, curling and twisting and pinning until my hair was arranged in a curly mass on the back of my head. I couldn’t have done something like that in a million years—I’d have burns all over my fingers and a bird’s nest to show for it if I tried.

One thing I could do though was makeup. The smoky eye I gave myself looked pretty awesome with scarlet lips.

Megan was right, I thought as I stood up. I looked great. After the damage I did to my credit card with a manicure, pedicure, new dress, and purse, I damn well should. I’d be paying off my night out for a long time, but if I pulled this off with my pride intact, it would be worth it.

There was a little piece of me—maybe more than a little piece—that wanted to make Josh sorry for what he’d done. I wanted him to look at me tonight and regret cheating on me.

“Thanks, Megan,” I said touching my hair. “You’re like a real-life unicorn. Just too good to be true.”

She made an exaggerated bow.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“Three minutes later than when you asked me last time,” she muttered, as she cleaned up our mess.

“God, I’m nervous,” I said, laying my hand on my stomach.

“There’s nothing to be nervous about. You look stunning.”

I slid my feet into her five-inch, pencil-thin heels and did a little tour of my bedroom to acclimate myself. “I have butterflies.”

“Get over it,” she said without turning around.

“Maybe it’s nausea.”

She whirled. “Don’t throw up on the shoes, or I swear to God our friendship is over.”

“I’m glad to know where I fall on your list of priorities.” I sat down, my knees like jelly. “I can’t believe this has me so worked up. I wish I hadn’t run into them that day. I wish Max hadn’t interfered. I could have just turned them down and that would have been that.”

“And what would you be doing tonight instead?” She sat beside me, patting me on the knee.

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be ready to throw up on your shoes. That much I know for sure.”

“You’re going to a fabulous party, instead,” she said firmly. “With a guy who makes you laugh. If nothing else, you will have a great time together. Forget the reason you’re even there. Just have fun.”

I looked out the window nervously. “What’s the weather like outside?”

“And now I’m a meteorologist,” she muttered, checking an app on her phone. “It’s chilly. Clear. No rain, thank God. I didn’t do your hair for nothing.”

“What time is it now?” I got up, pacing.

“It’s almost eight. He’ll be here any minute. Would you please calm down?”

“I don’t know what it is,” I admitted. “All of Lillian’s friends probably know who I am. They know Josh and I were sleeping together. What if they start something with me?”

“You’ll call me and I’ll get there and kick some ass,” she growled. “But I don’t think it will come to that. This isn’t a revenge story.”

“I hope not.”

“Besides, you won’t be alone. Max knows what’s up. He’ll protect you. I just have a feeling about him.”

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. The sound of the bell must have triggered my bladder since I had to pee all of a sudden, but I didn’t dare leave Megan alone with Max—I didn’t trust her mouth. She scrambled to her feet to answer while I checked my reflection once more.

“Hi,” I heard Max say, surprise in his voice. “I’m here for Mimi.”

She didn’t reply right away. I turned to see why and instantly understood. He took my breath away, too. Something deep in the pit of my body roared to life, while I pressed my lips together to contain the helpless groan that threatened to slip out of my mouth. I started rethinking my “no sex” rule then and there.