es from my boombox as

. No self-care, no time for me. But I need this. With school on spring break, I finally have the time to focus on myself. I'm th

top the treadmill and towel off my sweat. Standing in fro

y waist. My eyes are a deep brown, someone once called them whiskey-colored. My favorite feature is my nose, which most people find weird, but I love it. The s

tches. I keep going until my legs are shaking and I'm sore. Heaving, I collap

while before she picks up. He

ple in the world. I'd take a

n at her sweaty face and the bl

g out?"

g. You know how stressf

e one on Crosby Street. Foot massages, mani-pedis, t

nd since I'm one of the biggest chefs in New York - " she adds dramatica

oud of her. "I do.

eved. "Tell me h

narrowing my eyes. "Wait... t

it at some old, thatched-up store.

e where I've seen it before. We sa

un, glasses perched on my nose, a nude bag slung over my shoulder. The place is ae

man behind the counter. She's rea

anything in parti

hley,"

tiful. Romance, soft l

ust the thing. I get the need to

ancing at the

't worry. My sist

r through r

lor Jenkins R

ke my

presumed dead, and after three years, she's engaged again, only for her husband to return. Now she h

ds me t

o versions of her life. It's for people like me, who wonder if

ece. Shows the real side of marriage. No happily-e

vibe," I sa

beams. "Didn't

throw it

to laughter.

n more jealous of someone else's job. Being su

ofessor," she tease

. You could do it, though. You see

me. But I could always come here

ways open," sh

or it. "Wanna go club

ing that. But what the hell, y

We could meet a

there, and we'll go to Green L

s fabulou

s a

even five, pay, and leave, buzzing

n more beautiful than she described. The kind of love t

e picks up on

y,

she says, visi

were free,"

Spa day

, Ashley. We're going clubb

u sure that's a goo

n. "How dangerous can

till. Text me when you leave a

l and dial Cyp. He's been busy l

immediately.

, C

ks, concern in hi

essed. But I'm goin

Alone? Is

ntentionally. "How do

end, Aurora. She's mine too. Don't treat he

e's right. I sigh. "I'm

want a repeat of what ha

That night, I've b

. Love you." I han

wn, sexy, elegant, hugging my frame in all the rig

in my penthouse. It's a cozy little

or, grinning as

zing! But...

I thought we could stroll to the clu

s. "Sure,

e feels warm, lived-in. Homely. And here

tomatoes, and I frown. "Hi," I say, a

est girl from me, and I made dinn

nsure of w

Ashley says, appearing in

st," I say,

Daniel. Don't mind his goof

eggs, flashin

obvious, becaus

now you wer

meet today," she

murmur, smil

eyes wandering around the living room and kitchen.

at is t