“I can do this . . . I can do this,” I muttered to myself and blew out several breaths. I hadn’t been to a large event like this sinceJeremiah broke up with me. Shortly after, someone found out about it and blasted it all over social media.
I had created a video to address the rumors, confirming that yes, my longtime boyfriend had broken up with me; yes, I was single; and no, I was not in the market to date again. I stated that I was taking some time to pour into myself. The next video that I made addressing my personal life in-depth was when I announced I was six months pregnant with Belle.
“You’re going to blow their minds.”
“I hope you’re right, bestie.”
“Girl, I’m always right,” Sawyer quipped, waving a hand at me.
She walked up behind me, wrapped her arms around me, and rested her chin on my shoulder. “I’m so proud of you, bestie. You’re getting right back out there and reclaiming what was always meant to be yours.”
“I am, aren’t I?”
She smiled and nodded, but I had known Sawyer for six years, having met her at an influencer’s conference. I knew there was something on her mind.
“What, Sawyer?”
“What?”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing,” she stated, pulling away and turning her back on me.
“Uh-uh. Tell me what’s going on. I can’t do this with you tonight. You know I’ll be worried the entire time if you don’t tell me what that look was for.”
She sighed and muttered, “You’ll be worried if I do tell you.”
“Fine. I’m not going.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Then you’d better tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s Jeremiah.”
“What about him?”
“He’s back in town, and I think he’ll be there.”
“How do you know that?”
“I saw him on social media. Someone posted a picture, so I went to his page and saw that he had posted some pictures around town with his family. He’s here for the holidays, and he might have mentioned something about attending the Divas & Gents’ Influencers’ Ball.”
“You’re shitting me!”
“First, I wouldn’t tease you about something like this, and second, I wish like hell I was teasing you.”
I shook my hands and my head at the same time. “I can’t do this. I will not do this.”
“What? Are you freaking kidding me? This is why I didn’t want to tell you. You’ve given that asshole too much power over your life these last few years. He doesn’t get to rewrite your script, only you do.”
“You don’t understand. If he sees me there with Christian, he will think it’s a pity date. He’ll think that I couldn’t do any better than to get his best friend to accompany me. He’ll think?—”
“Who gives a shit what he thinks? And you and Christian know the truth. That’s the only thing that matters. Please, bestie. Don’t give him this power tonight too. You’re up for a nomination this year. Go to the ball and show him that he can’t hold a good woman down. Please. Do it for Belle. She needs to know how to fight her battles courageously when she grows up. Don’t teach her to run. If you run now, that’s what you’ll always show her.”
I exhaled and closed my eyes to shake off my nerves. “You’re right.”
Sawyer pulled me into her arms. “Thank you. I’m so proud of you. Besides, we might not be riding together, but we’ll be there together.”
