09
By the time I got home after a long day at work, my body ached, and my mind buzzed with exhaustion. I dropped my bag on the couch and let out a tired sigh, leaning back against the door for support. Before I could even think about relaxing, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
It was a message from Anna, my best friend:
“Hey babe, how are you doing?”
Thesitated before typing back, “Better,”
It wasn’t a lie. Work had kept my mind busy, distracting me from the hollow ache in my chest. The heartbreak wasn’t gone, but for the first time in days, I felt a little lighter.
Anna’s reply came quickly “Are you willing to come out today? There’s a new restaurant near my workplace. The
food is to die for.”
I glanced toward the kitchen. The shelves were nearly bare, a few scattered items hinting at how long it had been since I last cooked. Eating out didn’t sound so bad.
“Okay. Send me the address. I’ll meet you there at 7.”
It was only 6:10, so I had some time to freshen up. I headed to my room, hoping a change of clothes makeup might help me feel more like myself.
s and some
By the time I arrived at the restaurant, the sky was a deep shade of blue, the streetlights casting a warm glow on the pavement
The restaurant was small, clearly a new venture, but it had a cozy charm that made me curious.
After parking my car on the side of the road, I reached for my phone. A message from my mom popped up on the screen: “Don’t forget to visit Fedrick tomorrow I’ve sent some things to your house for you to take with you. Here’s
the address.”
I sighed, staring at the text. The idea of meeting Fedrick made my stomach twist. I wasn’t ready–not yet. I didn’t want him to see me like this, still raw and fragile from everything that had happened with Darius. What if he looked at
me and thought I was broken?
Pushing the thought aside, I locked my car and stepped into the restaurant. A soft chime announced my arrival, and I spotted Anna waving at me from a comer table. Her grin was infectious
“Hey,” I greeted her as I slid into the seat across from hers.
“You really do look better,” Anna said, her eyes scanning my face.
I gave her a small smile. “Thanks. I needed today to clear my head.”
“Good. Now, let’s feed you. You look like you haven’t eaten properly in days.”
“Order whatever you want,” I said with a wave of my hand. “I’m starving.”
Anna giggled, calling me a glutton as she flagged down a waiter. While she rattled off our order, I leaned back in
my seat, letting the warm atmosphere of the restaurant wash over me.
For a while, we talked about everything and nothing–work, life, and random gossip. Anna always had a way of making me feel grounded, her chatter filling the spaces where my thoughts would normally spiral. But when our food didn’t arrive after a while, she stood up to check on it.
“I’ll be right back,” she said with a wink
Left alone, I busied myself with the order brochure on the table, flipping through it absently. The sound of approaching footsteps made me glance up, and my breath caught in my throat
Selene.
Of all people, it had to be her. Her presence was like a sudden storm cloud, darkening my mood instantly. I quickly looked back at the brochure, pretending I hadn’t seen her.
“Mind if I sit here?” she asked, her voice sugary sweet. Before I could respond, she slid into the seat Anna had
vacated
I didn’t bother hiding my irritation. “I do mind,” I said firmly. “That’s my friend’s seat. Please leave.”
But Selene only smiled, the kind of smile that wasn’t meant to be kind. “Oh, come on. We’re practically friends, aren’t we?”
I kept my gaze on the brochure, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me flustered. “We’re not. And I’d appreciate it if you left”
Her smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “I just thought we could have a little chat Girl to girl”
My patience was wearing thin. “What do you want, Selene? You already have Darius. You’re pregnant, and you’re marrying him in two weeks. What more could you possibly want from me?”
Her eyes widened, a flicker of surprise breaking through her composure. “Pregnant? How did you know that?”
“A little bird told me,” I said coolly, refusing to look at her “Now, if you don’t have anything else to say, leave,
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her confidence visibly shaken. Whatever she had come here for, she clearly hadn’t expected me to be so calm.
The moment Selene opened her mouth, ready to say something, chaos erupted. A loud crash shattered the restaurant’s calm, and I whipped my head around