The couch I bought off Craigslist.
The chipped mug sitting beside the sink.
The stack of overdue envelopes near the door.
Life-changing sounds pretty good right about now.
I hate that I’m even considering it.
But the truth is I’ve been drowning for months.
Ever since my parents cut me off.
The Rutherford name sounds impressive until you’re the one family member they decided isn’t worth keeping around.
I shake the thought away.
I don’t want to think about them anyway. Especially not tonight.
Especially whenheenters my mind.
A familiar ache stirs somewhere deep in my chest, sharp and sudden.
I push it down.
It’s been years.
He’s probably forgotten I exist.
And it’s good. Because that’s exactly how it should be.
I flip the card over again, staring at the address like it might suddenly explain itself.
It doesn’t.
Still…
What’s the worst that could happen?
I laugh under my breath.
That’s always a stupid question.
The universe loves answering it.
I drop the card on the counter and grab my phone, opening the maps app. My thumb hesitates above the search bar for a second before I type the address in.
The building pops up instantly.
It’s a luxury five star hotel. The kind of place in which you can smell the money, success and luxury the second you step inside.
It’s definitely not the type of place someone like me gets invited to. Well, not anymore.
My pulse kicks up a little.
Maybe it’s a networking thing. Some rich people event where investors get drunk and throw money at projects they’ll forget about in the morning.
I could pretend to be someone important for a night.
