Bradsh

ndescending advice to "get some rest." She thought I was just throwing a tantrum. After three years of me bending to her every whim, she couldn' t conceive of

the house key on the counter of the home that was no longer ours, a

small talk and pretend my life wasn't a complete dumpster fire. But the organizer, our old class president, sent me a private message. People were looking forward to s

restaurant was buzzing with the cheerful noise of people catching up, reminisci

e back. It was Dave, a guy I used to study with. "Where's Di

answer, the restaurant doo

ely around her shoulders. They moved through the room like t

ge deal. Seeing her with him sent a ripple of awkward tension through the crowd. My

ker in her expression-surprise? Guilt? It was gone before I could be sure. Then, with a deliberat

er texts. Angry that I had dared to call her bluff. Angry that I had

lips. I picked up my bee

are" to break the ice. The bottle was s

d. "Truth. Why is a guy like you, Crosby, still single after all

d his head and looked directly at Diane,

or someone. Someone who was, uh, otherwise enga

, not cool. It' s just a game." He looked

llow feeling spreading thr

e the golden couple, destined for a merger of family fortunes. Seeing them together now, it felt less like a new

first to leave, desperate for air. I was st

ny,

f the streetlights. "They were just kidding around b

ne, peeking out from the neckline of her dres

My voice was ice. "It doesn't matt

care? I can walk around with another man

" I said, my voice fla

but just then, Eugene stumbled out of the

f being drunker than he was. "I don't

reaction. Searching for a spark of the old jealousy,

ight smile. "Go on,"

concern for him in her eyes. It was a look she had never once given me. The who

s done f

tightly around her waist. As the red taillights dis

crolling through my contacts unti

Draw up the papers. I want everything ready to file fi

dure another