That became our weekly thing—minus the spilled coffee—for the next month. Until one day, this stunningly beautiful stranger with long teal and pink braids that reached her hips came and sat down at our table with three chocolate croissants and a book by A. M. Pierce tucked under her arm and introduced herself as Capri.
They are my family.
I could never choose a man over them, even if that man is Josh. I’m still stupidly in love with him, and I might regret my choice in the morning.
Lexi nudges me with her elbow, pulling me out of my gloomy thoughts. “Don’t you dare text him,” she says as she takes her next shot easily.
I roll my eyes and flash her an annoyed smile. “I’m not going to. But it’s not like I can just turn my heart off that fast, Lex,” I tell her as I handher a new lime. “We only broke up,” I look down at my watch, “less than four hours ago.”
Lexi hands me the salt shaker. “Maybe this is a sign that you and Josh aren’t meant to be.”
My heart feels shredded by her words.
“Sorry, T. That came out harsher than I intended,” she quickly amends with an apologetic smile. “I just meant that you two have had this same issue since you got together. One of you needed to give in to make it work, and neither of you did. You deserve better.”
I shrug. “You’re right. I know you are. I just can’t believe it’s really over. Josh was my first real relationship. I loved him. You know? It’s hard to get my heart in line with my head.”
Lexi hands me another shot, and I down it quickly, relishing in the burn as the alcohol slides down my throat.
“How about we put a pin in the sad-girl talk and go dancing?” Lexi suggests. “No more Josh talk. Just the two of us enjoying that single life while we’re hot and young.” Her enthusiasm is infectious, and before I know it, she’s pulling me out the door, and we’re walking with our arms linked down to our old favorite dance club. This might be the perfect way to overcome a self-inflicted broken heart.
Chapter eight
It’s no easy feat to listen to Teagan bitch and moan about her relationship with Josh being over, especially because I can’t let her know how thrilled I am about it or how anxious I am to text him.
I’ve managed to keep our affair a secret for the last three months; no need to ruin it now. Even though I’m the worst friend in the universe for what I’ve been doing with Josh behind her back, she’s also my best friend, and I genuinely hate seeing her in this much pain.
I take a sip of my water, twisting my blonde ponytail in my fingers. I need to sober up a little before I fall into the trap of drunk texting my best friend’s ex. We’ve been dancing for what feels like hours, and I’m finally starting to feel my age. Thirty is nowhere near as fun as my twenties when it comes to clubbing. The club is full of college kids, and Teagan and I have both giggled over how out of place we feel.
“Hey!” Teagan shouts over the music. “Are you ready to head out of here? I think I’d rather just go home and keep drinking. This music is starting to give me a migraine.”
I nod and book an Uber. “The car should be here in five minutes, so let’s go wait outside!” She gives me a thumbs up and almost falls off her stool. “Good call, because you are way drunker than I anticipated!” I grabher by the waist and sling her arm over my shoulder to help her to the door.
The cool air sobers me up instantly. The same thing cannot be said for my little drunk friend. Teagan steps out of my arms and stumbles into the brick wall on the side of the club. She slides down and plops herself on the sidewalk. I slide down next to her while we wait for our car to get here.
“What if we just go to Scotland together?” Teagan says, her voice taking on that happy-drunk quality that I’ve always been so fond of.
“You want me to be your date?” I raise my eyebrows and smirk over at her. “You gonna wine and dine me while we’re there?”
“No, you ass. I just meant that it might be better if you and I go solo. We can gal-pal it up while Capri and Lee bask in all the romantic scenery that the Scottish countryside has to offer. Plus, I know you don’t want to watch them be all adorable and coupley. You’re just too nice to admit it,” she slurs out. “But I know you, Lex. And I know you’re a hopeless romantic at heart just like me. You pretend to have this whole ‘I don’t need no man’ thing going until you catch the right one. So let’s say screw it and be each other’s dates. What do you say?”
I roll my eyes and smile. “I’ll always be your date, T.”
“Maybe we’ll meet a couple of hot guys while we are there! Didn’t Capri say that the submission was for all sorts of influencers, journalists, and whatnot?” Teagan asks as she rubs her hands together for warmth.
“What the hell,” I say, shrugging. “Let’s go meet some gorgeous Scottish men and have our way with them.”
We both erupt into laughter just as my phone vibrates in my back pocket. Our car has arrived, so I help Teagan up. My phone dings again as I get into the backseat. I feel like I’ve been dunked in ice water as I read the text.
Josh wants to meet up in half an hour. He left so quickly this morning after we finished that I assumed that he might be sick of me. I glance over at Teagan before texting him back, promising to be there as soon as I can. The drive to Teagan’s apartment is quick. I ask our driver to wait as I help her get upstairs.
“Want to stay over?” Teagan asks once we step out of the elevator. “I have pizza.”
“I’d love that, but I have to get up early for work, so raincheck?” I hope she can’t hear the lie in my voice. Sober Teagan knows I don’t work on the weekends, so I’m hoping she’s drunk enough right now to forget that little fact.
“Absolutely. I’ll just inhale a whole pizza by myself,” she jokes. Her voice still has that happy drunk slur to it. I tell her bye and head back towards the elevator. “Get home safe, Lex!” Teagan shouts after me.
I flash her a thumbs-up and continue to walk down the hallway. I wonder if she can tell that my heart feels like it’s being ripped to shreds on the inside.
