Victor could’ve had anyone, but he’d only wanted me. Stolen kisses when no one was around, him sending me flowers and me having to lie to Vanessa about who’d sent them.
Until one day she’d stolen his phone and seen the messages between us. She’d warned him once not to fuck me over, and it had pretty much been a fairytale ever since.
Now this.
It hurt so much I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My hand moved to my chest as tears stung my eyes. I would do anything for him to kiss my forehead again and tell me everything was going to be alright.
Anything.
Vanessa harrumphed, bringing me back to the present. She shoved the dress back on the railing with a clang.
“Well, about that.”
I blinked and inhaled sharply, trying to push away memories of ‘us’ before. I still couldn’t believe Victor had done this. Tous.
How could you be together for so long and then fuck it all over with some woman? To make it worse, he wasn’t even in love with her. Somehow, that made it worse. He didn’t even do it for love.
Would my soul ever stop searching for answers where there were none?
“So, what do you say?” Vanessa beamed at me, and I realised I’d missed something important while I’d been lost in the crevices of my own mind.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Vanessa gaped at me. “Girl, what? I just offered to whisk you away, and you weren’t listening? That was my grand gesture! My good deed of the century!”
I reached out and took her hand, the woman I loved like a sister. “I’m sorry. Tell me again.”
Vanessa softened and sighed, squeezing my hand. “I’m going to a hair convention in Atlantic City. It’s only for a few days, but I thought you could come with me, you know?”
Something sparked deep inside me at her words, but it wasn’t exactly what she was saying, more of an idea… an excitement I’d not felt in years.
A break by the coast, but not justanycoast.
I could go to Europe. I’d always wanted to go to Europe, especially Greece. We had some savings, mainly for our retirement, but who gave a shit about that now? I’d contributed just as much to the savings so fuck Victor.
“Actually,” I said, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves that were suddenly zinging. “I think I’d like to go alone, as lovely as your gesture is.”
Vanessa frowned. “Alone? Lila, who goes on vacation alone?”
But I was already imagining the sun-drenched white sand and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. Greek music and cocktails. Heat on my skin.
“Me,” I replied, a heat blossoming in my chest at the thought of doing what I wanted, without thinking of anyone else. “I would. I want to go to Greece.”
“Greece?!Alone? Are you having a breakdown? It’s not safe to just jet across the world…”
I tuned her out, moving to the swimsuit section of the store we were in, imagining myself in a big-brimmed hat, sunglasses and a wide smile.
Oh my god. This is what I need.
“Not to mention the men. I mean, yeah, they’re hot, but they prey on single women!” Vanessa was still ranting, but I was already working out the logistics. I could put the house on the market, and the realtor could show people around while I was away.
I needed to book it, as soon as possible.
There was just one thing I needed to do: tell Victor I wanted to sell the house.
I sighed. He still hadn’t signed the divorce papers.
“Okay, look.” I put a hand up to silence my babbling best friend. “I love you. I do. But I’m going to Greece, and I’ll be absolutely fine. Lots of women travel alone. As for hot Greekmen? I can handle that.” I chuckled, and Vanessa scanned my eyes.
