Page 3 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

She hesitates, then leans in slightly. “You might want to grab a drink before boarding.”

I blink at her, then nod slowly.

“You know what? That might be the most helpful thing anyone’s said to me all day.”

Security is a blur after that. Shoes off, bag through, my brain lagging somewhere behind my body. None of this feels quite real.

Thirty minutes later, I’m sitting at an airport bar, halfway through a glass of wine that cost more than my dignity, which, considering recent events, is saying something.

I swirl the glass absentmindedly, staring at nothing in particular while my brain replays the last hour on a loop.

“I mean, the audacity,” I mutter under my breath.

“Rough day?”

I glance sideways at a guy sitting a few stools down.

“That depends,” I say. “Do you consider being dumped in public mid-life relocation a rough day, or more of a personality-building experience?”

He winces. “Yeah, that’s rough.”

“Thank you,” I say, pointing at him with my glass. “Validation. That’s all I’m asking for.”

I take another sip, then sigh.

Men are exhausting, relationships are worse, and moving to a new city for one who turns out to be allergic to commitment? Deeply, spectacularly draining.

“Final boarding call for flight 472 to Chicago…”

I freeze.

Right.

Chicago.

I stare at my glass for another second before pushing it away.

Too late to change my mind now. My life is already somewhere beneath the plane in two checked suitcases.

I grab my tote bag and head for the gate.

By the time I get there, boarding is almost finished, which feels fitting. Of course I'd be one of the last passengers, slightly disheveled and carrying what remains of my dignity in an oversized tote bag.

I hand over my boarding pass, offering a polite smile that probably looks more like I'm trying not to scream.

The flight attendant scans it, then pauses.

Her eyes flick up to mine, and there’s a brief moment of recognition that makes my stomach drop.

Oh no.

Does she know I was dumped?

Did shesee?

Fantastic. Love that for me.

“Miss Clarke?” she says gently.