bbing, and you have dinner

uickly I nearly gi

t want to int

her boob at the dinner table, but other than that, it's gre

er, the kind of soft, honest love t

re... I'd lov

f you don't mind. Weird craving o

t mind

utlery. We fall into a quiet rhythm, working

. He's seated across from Ashley,

I say, taking a bite of the food, a

at's incredible. You must've worked you

"Thank you. It wasn't easy, but it

I sing at bars a

ferent from mine. Simpler. And honestly, more beautiful t

n hits me. Longing? Grie

law firm. It was draining. We barely had time for each other, and we hated our jobs. But we knew we couldn't lose t

d beautiful. I'm

t you?" Da

end, Zoe, she's a chef. A boyfriend, Cyprus, who works in his family

We all find love in dif

, "But what if it's not enough? Wh

ilence hangs until Daniel spea

n hits me l

nd what you're

is voice, ech

sper, "I don't know. Maybe

fill the air. I try not to get lost in my thoughts, but it's hard.

bject. "How did

learly, it's thei

ed it,especially mine, and told me to refine it and present again. I was thrilled. But I'd always tri

seeing her return to class with a cookie in her mouth.

ho's this cute idiot? I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed him before. That moment... it felt like I could breathe again. Like I'd been wa

exhale, o

. I found my fairytale,

ts up, but I rise to

ne rings. It's Zoe. I

le, holding the

g?" she asks,

you later. Get some rest." I

bottle of wine and a bowl

. Danie

night, so I thought I'd

the library," h

shley. "You hi

sure your Cypru

oks you gave me. The trilogy? I was

"I've got mo

yes on the ceiling. For the firs

ay?" sh

reak down,

to rest. Ma

n sleep

indness is overwhelmi

hink I just need to sleep

o. Let me pack you some lef

n stop her,

yself, taking in the co

lls. "Dan, get h

ul brown coat, which I pu

here and come for

eyes

too late,you could get

d the walk. It's bar

one. And your exact address. If we don't hear from

them both befo

not to think too hard about Ashley and Daniel and their happy en

Miley Cyrus. I bop my head, smiling, un

en I f

ing fo

ack. A man

hé, but t

earpiece, trying not to alert him.

are people everywhere.

looking at me. My stomach twists. I don't look

y in numbers. Maybe they'l

everything is fine. A girl

s. I switch from Face

" I say, vo

you? It s

I say, tugging

his h

hang up, slippin

e. Ashley will ca

n my neck

till foll

ally pis

y, I spin around and ye

t stop until I reach my place. Before going ins

Maybe I just yelled at a ran

ulous I must've look

t. I don't feel like talk

I'm home. She sounds relieved. Naturally, I l

ll to the floor. My dress follows

o the couch, grab the leftover l

start watching Aven

I grab the ice cream, scoop a

ne of the perks

of girl. I value my person

with two other girls. It was a huge place, more lik

e beds and our things, and for a

parties

at boys lounging on my bed, sm

My peace. All thanks to their dumb parti

just a preference