ebooks. I was carefully placing them into a worn cardboard bo

ck

countertop. They skidded, loud in t

as light, a little amused. Like I was re

look up.

over me. "Packing for what, Em? Anoth

nd he still called my passi

ramekin. "You're not still u

t was one

y. Splashed across every society blog, held at t

y perfect brow was furrowed, but no

e flat. "The one you said was 'all about the

second. "It was symbolic, Emily. Y

amond, caught in a hundred paparazzi

mall, dull stone in a thin band. I'd cried, t

a marriage license – my idea, a quiet, simple

ece of paper? That's

laugh, the one that always ma

choed in my memor

he got a five-star resort, a guest list from the social register, and a headline

her saw tha

had. She'd been so excited about my "engagement." She'd

rt, already fragile, gave out. A massive coron

ecialized procedure. One

't have. Mon

s at local markets, every spare cent given to Jack to "invest" for our futu

glasses cost more than my weekly grocery budget. He was with Blair

she went to t

voice shook. "She had a heart attack. She needs

, his eyes cool. "

rgent.

know things have been... awkward. Bu

ne! It's my gra

isper. "You always did have a flair for the dramatic, didn't yo

d it affectionately on

Jack. The money I

ur bake sale earnings, Emily. And frankly, I don't appreciate you trying

we

in dark suits, the restaurant's secur

on?" one of them asked, his eyes

No problem. Just a... misunders

Humiliation burned through me, hotter than any oven. I was escorted

omeone mutter as the hea

other's old, handwritten recipe cards. "So, what's thi

t get it. Or d

s grasp. "She needs surge

w bad can it be? Old people

uelty of it s