Nikki McTrouble: What?
Nikita McBossy: Wait—did he dump you?
Other way around.
Raine McNosy: Why? He looked like a man who could do dangerous things with a hose.
Because he deserves more than I can give.
Nikita McBossy: Right. Girls’ night. I’ll bring wine. When’severyone free?
Nikki McTrouble: Can’t do tonight. Have the in-laws here. I think you need to send some of that wine to me. Or maybe something stronger.
Raine McNosy: I’m free tomorrow. Parents’ meeting tonight. If my son gets another detention so help me…
Don’t worry. I’m fine.
Nikita McBossy: Liar.
Raine McNosy: Are you crying into a box of strawberry creams right now?
Maybe. That’s all I have left.
Raine McNosy: I’ll fly by with an emergency chocolate drop-off and a drive-by hug after work.
Raine McNosy: And you’d better not be watching House Hunters in your dressing gown when I get there.
How did you know that’s what I was watching?
Nikita McBossy: Because we know you, Em. And we know you always put others first. Let someone take care of you for once.
I love you guys.
I drop the phone onto my lap and wipe my face with the back of my hand.
Cupid nudges my arm, purring harder, like he’s trying to convince me I’m not alone. But the truth is, I’ve never felt more alone in my life.
A knock at the door makes me jump. My heart races asI lurch from the sofa, the tissues scattering to the floor and the few strawberry chocolates tumbling with them. I tug my dressing gown around me and tie it tight as I rush to the door, hoping it’s my grocery delivery bringing more chocolates and my date with Ben and Jerry.
I swing the door open, but I’m met with my brother.
Flint’s brow furrows as he takes in my appearance. “Are you ill?” He steps into the house, gaze roaming my messy hall with my work bag and shoes from Friday still haphazardly in the middle of the walkway.
“I’m not feeling myself, that’s all.” I walk past him in the hall, stepping over my bag, and lead him into the kitchen where a sink full of pots glare at me.
“Yeah, I heard you called things off with Drake.” He rolls his sleeves and fills up the sink with hot water. “What’s going on?”
I slide out a chair at the table and drop onto the hard wood with a sigh. Tears pool in my eyes and I bury my head in my hands.
It’s as if my cats sense my heartache as Fidget and Smokey curl around my legs. Robbie pounces onto the table and nudges at my hands.
“Everything was great and Ijswentnruwendit…” Sobs burst out of me as I drop my face into my arms on the table, my shoulders shaking with every cry.
Flint’s hand rests on my shoulder. “Want to talk about it?” The chair scrapes against the tiles as he pulls out the one next to me and sits down, drying his hands on a tea towel.
I tilt my head and crack open one eye, taking in his furrowed brow. “Why does everything have to hurt so much?”
“It seems to me that you’re not the only one who’s hurting right now.”
