13:33 – Daisy:Have a nice evening, Damian.
13:34 – Damian:Take care, Daisy.
I slid into the car, greeted by Jenn’s beaming smile. She handed me a steaming cup of coffee.
“I got you your favorite—Mr. Latte Macchiato with extra foam,” she said as she pulled out of the parking spot.
“I know exactly why you’re my best friend,” I replied, taking a deep sip. The warmth of the coffee spread through me.
“It’s so good to see you again, Daisy. We have so much to catch up on,” Jenn said, glancing over before fixing her eyes back on the road.
“I have a lot to tell you, too,” I answered. “But you go first. What happened with you and Mike?”
Jenn sighed and turned the radio down. “Where should I start? It was a mutual decision. We realized we just don’t work as a couple. We argue too much, see things too differently. But as friends, we’re fine. So we decided to leave it at that.”
“So you split on good terms? And how do you feel about it?”
“Actually, pretty good,” Jenn said, sipping her coffee. “I have so much to study that I barely have time to think about it. Mike promised he’d still help me with that.”
I nodded. “That shows how strong your friendship really is.”
Jenn smiled. “Yeah, maybe we never should’ve been a couple. By the way, I recently ran into your ex.”
My heart skipped. “Which one?”
“The smaller asshole of the two.”
“So Oliver.”
“We talked for a while. He said he misses you. He really wants to see you, Daisy.”
I stared out the window, trying to sort through my feelings. “Oliver really hurt me. But he was also the only one—besides you—who was there for me when I was at my lowest.”
Jenn nodded. “I know. He said he hasn’t been able to forget you. And that he really wants to talk to you.”
I exhaled. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
“It would take your mind off this Damian situation. Plus, Oliver looks even better now. He’s been working out, and it shows.”
Jenn put a hand on my arm. “So what’s going on with you and Damian? Is everything okay?”
I shrugged. “It’s complicated. This constant back-and-forth is driving me insane. Sometimes he’s charming, attentive, even loving. The next moment he’s cold, distant—like I imagined the whole thing. I never know where I stand with him. And that’s exactly what keeps me hooked. When we flew to Rome, we talked for almost the entire flight. I love that he’s as passionate abouthistory as I am. But just when I think I can finally grasp him, he slips away again.”
“But you’re not together?”
“No. I don’t know. Not the way I’d like us to be.”
“Daisy, you need to be careful,” Jenn said, her voice heavy with concern. “Especially because I know guys like him are exactly your type.”
“Guys like him?”
“Charming, handsome, intelligent, manipulative, deeply complex, dangerous men.”
“Wow. Nailed it. Have you memorized Damian’s résumé?”
“I’d add possessive, self-assured, and power-obsessed.”
Jenn sighed, clearly worried. “I just worry about you. We’ve known each other forever, and in all that time, you’ve never had a single healthy relationship. And I get it, I really do. I know your family, your history. But I don’t want you to lose yourself completely. Just last week we had a psychology lecture, and the professor could’ve described your behavior word for word: emotional dependency, a need for validation. And relationships with men like Damian? They’re often rooted in unresolved childhood trauma and a sense of worthlessness.”
