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He’d ruined me.
And I’d let him do it, despite my better judgment.
It had been a week since Ben and I had last seen each other. And now that our best friends were engaged, I hoped for my sanity, for my heart, that the next time we saw each other would be at the wedding, probably a year from now.
When I heard the knock on my front door at half past seven Monday morning, I shook off the sadness that had become a second skin, putting a smile on to face Everly.
As soon as I opened the door, I blurted out, “Let me see it.”
Everly had a grin on her face wider than I’d ever seen. “You’ve already seen it but…okay.” She held out her hand, the sparkle on her ring finger almost blinding.
“I haven’t seen it on you.” I grabbed her extended hand and pulled it up, the diamonds practically blinding me.
I had been the first person she’d called after Max popped the question. It had been two a.m. Because Max’s idea of getting engaged included a getaway to California, where he’d proposed at the Marker in San Francisco.
“Everly, it’s even more beautiful on your finger.”
“I know, right.” She held out her hand, admiring the ring, but then she retreated, pulling her hand away. “Are you sure we should be doing this here?” She peeked around me, looking for Sadie. “I feel bad being so happy when she…”
I laid my hand on her shoulder and guided her inside. “She’s still sleeping, and Sadie wouldn’t want you to stifle your happiness because of her.”
We walked into the kitchen and I grabbed a coffee mug out of the cupboard and poured Everly a cup.
“How is she doing?”
To be honest, I had no idea. She’d barely spoken, was avoiding the cops at every turn, and I just didn’t know how to get through to her.
“I’m not sure how to handle this, Evs.”
Sadie wasn’t the only thing in my life I didn’t know how to handle. I had avoided work all week, but Colette had finally sent me an email and had made it perfectly clear that she wanted to see me this morning for an overdue discussion.
I was not looking forward to it, but knew it had
to happen. I would go in there with my head held high and take my punishment. I had no doubt I’d be let go. What other option did she have?
“She’s going to need help,” Everly said after taking a sip of her coffee. “A trauma counselor. A shrink. Someone other than you.”
“She’s not even talking to me.” We’d spent the last few days cooped up in the apartment together. Sadie sleeping off her meds and me watching over her, waiting for her to tell me what had happened.
“But after I get fired this morning, I’ll have lots of time on my hands to get her into a program or something.”
“You’re not going to get fired.” Everly leaned across the counter and rested her hand on mine, her left hand sparkling brilliantly. Her entire being was happy even when she tried to be sad. She couldn’t help it. And I didn’t blame her. I’d be the same if I had found my happily ever after.
“You weren’t there. You didn’t see the look on Colette’s face. Like someone had shot her puppy. And Ben didn’t make things…”
I hadn’t told Everly that Ben had been at the party with me. I hadn’t told her at all about what had gone on between us, because I never thought it would have escalated into something worth talking about.
I was horribly wrong.
“Ben was with you?” She sipped her coffee. I could practically hear her brain working, like some high-powered machine.
“It was a mistake, and not something that will be repeated.”
“I’m worried about you.” Everly sat back in her seat, her hands still clasped on the counter, fiddling with her ring. “And I’m worried about Ben. He’s been at our place all week, a moping mess, which now makes sense.”
So he felt just as shitty as I did. Shouldn’t that make me feel better?
“You don’t need to worry about me.” I wiped the counter with my fingers, working out a smudge on the surface. “I went into this with my eyes wide open.”
