“Ads,” I answer in a rush.
“What’s wrong?” she snaps, breathless. “You better be dying if you’re texting me SOS. I almost lost a limb running out of a building to get service.”
A reluctant smile tugs at my lips. “God, you don’t say much, but that one line just calmed half my nerves.”
“Well, what about the other half? What’s going on?”
“Corey showed up at the office, and I’m on the way to meet him.” I pause. “I’m ending it. Tonight.”
“Ahhh. Are you okay? Do you want me to meet you? What are you going to say? What are you wearing?”
I glance down at my white silk blouse, tucked into my brown suede skirt and knee-high leather boots. “What does my outfit have to do with it?”
“I don’t know,” she says in a dramatic panic. “What if he’s a total cockhead? You need to show him what he’s missing.”
“A cockhead?” I laugh.
“Yes,” she states with absolute conviction, then bursts out laughing.
We both fall sober after a moment, and reality begins to sink in.
My voice softens. “Can you be at my place later?”
“I was already planning on it.”
“I’m nervous,” I admit.
Ending our engagement is the right thing to do; there is no doubt. But it doesn’t make it any easier.
“All you have to do is tell him the truth,” she says gently. “There’s not much else you can do.”
My cab slows to a stop in front of the restaurant. “I thought you’d have a better plan than that.”
“Some plans are meant to be simple and to the point. Don’t drag it out. I’ll be there for you when you get home.”
“Thank you. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
I step inside, and my nerves rise.
The warm hum of conversation and the clink of glassware echo in my ears, and the scent of roasted garlic and butter hangs in the air, decadent enough to turn my stomach.
Corey spots me instantly, rising from his chair. The tailored navy suit, of course, fits him perfectly, paired with a crisp white shirt and a faint trace of his cologne.
Subtle. Expensive. Suffocating.
“Hi, sweetheart.” His voice is smooth and too polished.
He leans in and kisses my cheek, and I hug him back a little tighter than normal, not out of affection, but because I know it’s the last time.
A mix of emotions runs through me.
For all his flaws, and God knows there are plenty, Corey gave me what he could. It wasn’t enough. But the worst part? I let it be enough for far too long.
I never gave him a fair chance to prove himself worthy.
I draw in a breath, ready to speak, but a waitress appears with a bottle of champagne—my favorite.
