“Nope.” She sits back, folding her arms like she’s ruling from a throne. “New plan. Since you’re doing your best to ‘forget’ him, you’re going on a date.”
I blink. “Come again?”
“A date. A safe one. Someone normal and boring and nice.”
“I don’t want boring.”
“You also don’t want to be sitting at your kitchen table crying over a man you aren’t sure you’ll ever be with.” Her look softens. “Just one date. Reset your brain. Remind yourself there are other men on planet Earth.”
I hate that she’s right.
I hate even more that going feels like betrayal… to who, I don’t know. Myself? Jace? The version of me who swore she wouldn’t fall apart like this?
Emma keeps going, because of course she does. “You’re not cheating. You’re not doing anything wrong. You’re allowed to… you know… see if your heart will latch on to someone who doesn’t come with years of emotional damage and a messy marital status.”
I snort. “You make it sound so romantic.”
“I’m serious.” Her voice turns gentle, the one she uses when she’s trying not to spook me. “You’ve been in love with this man for so long you don’t even remember what it feels like not to be. Just… give yourself a night where you pretend there’s another option.”
I stare at the steam curling off my coffee.
A tiny, stubborn part of me whispers that there isn’t another option. That it’s always been him. That every time I’ve tried to move on, I end up in the same place.
But Emma is staring me down, relentlessly.
“Fine,” I say quietly. “One date.”
Her victory grin is immediate. “I already have someone in mind.”
I squint at her. “Of course you do.”
“Relax. Brian. He works in your building, in accounting, I think. He’s cute in a wholesome way, and he asked about you at the Alumni event.”
I think back to that night. I vaguely remember a guy in a navy suit making a joke about spreadsheets and terrible office coffee. “That Brian?”
“That Brian,” she says, smug. “Harmless. Employed. Owns a dog. You could do worse.”
My chest feels tight, but I nod. “Okay. Text him.”
She’s already pulling out her phone. “Look at you. Personal growth.”
“Shut up,” I mutter, but there’s no heat in it.
Because the truth is, I’m tired of feeling like my life is on pause, waiting to see what happens to someone else’s marriage. I’m tired of circling the same ache.
Maybe one date won’t fix anything. But at least it’ll be something that isn’t sitting alone on my couch, replaying old conversations in my head.
Emma looks up from her phone. “Done. Seven o’clock tonight. Casual at The Bar. You’re welcome.”
I blink. “Wait—howdo you even have his number?”
She doesn’t flinch. “I asked him.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Emma!”
“Relax,” she says, waving her hand. “I told Ethan what I needed it for, and he was fully on board. Apparently he wants you out of your house as much as I do.”
I stare at her, stunned. “You two are unbelievable.”
