Page 3 of The Heartbreak List

“I didn’t ask you.”

“No, but may I make a suggestion?”

I side-eye him. He has an opinion. Oh, this is going to be good.

“Stash your panties in your purse and give that fiancé of yours the surprise of his life.”

“I’m not going to take advice from you.” Even if I’m filled with a sudden need to find out what Gray would do if my panties were in my handbag when he picked me up at the end of the night. “Because I’m not bored or boring. And neither is my relationship.”

Talking to this guy certainly isn’t the highlight of my night.

“I’d be happy to rescue you.”

Is he for real? “I’m getting married.”

He shrugs. “From your boredom then. Wanna get out of here? I know a great place to get pancakes.”

Even if I wasn’t getting married… “It’s two in the morning.”

“It’s never too early for pancakes.” He squints, his eyes lit with a twinkle. The kind that would get a girl into trouble if she were into that kind of thing.

“There you are.” America grabs my arm and drags me away from the eyes. “I thought you’d gotten sick. You were taking forever.”

“Sorry.” I touch my engagement ring. It is as solid as ever. Gray is waiting to pick me up from our night out. And some guy who occasionally comes close to being a stripper and spouts motivational quotes likelive a littleis nothing but a cliff note. “I got stuck, talking.”

America glances over her shoulder at the guy before raising both eyebrows. “Hmm. I can see why. Those eyes.”

“And doesn’t he know it?” I chuckle.

“I bet.” She giggles as we bump against each other.

“Don’t forget,” he calls over his shoulder as he finally leaves.

“Don’t forget what?” America hustles into the bathroom and checks her hair and makeup in the mirror over the sink. As late as it is, somehow she’s still perfect, like a gorgeous Zendaya impersonator.

I glance after him, but he’s gone by this point. I rub at my throbbing temples and my vision swims. “He thinks I don’t know how to have a good time.”

“Because you knocked his advances?” She wrinkles her nose, but then she turns her back to the counter and grins at me. “Or because you told him about how you’ve had every single part of your life planned out since you were fifteen? Bullet points and all.”

“You’re a jerk.”

“I’m insulted.” She presses a hand to her chest but her gaze lights up with amusement. “I’m your best jerk, thank you very much.”

“I wish you weren’t leaving me.” I throw my arms around her.

She clings to me too. “It’s only for a year.”

“A year is too long when I’ve been used to you living right next door since we were born.”

“You don’t even live with your parents anymore. You’re all the way across town.” She laughs as we leave the bathroom. “I’ll be back as often as I can. And we’ll talk to each other every day.”

“But it isn’t the same. Who am I going to hang out with?”

“You could always hang out with that guy.” She tips her head in the direction of the bathroom. “I bet Gray would love that.”

“Yeah, he’d be thrilled.” I laugh, yet I’m antsy. And it isn’t entirely because my bestie called me out for being so goal-orientated. Or that some guy thinks he worked out who I am from a few minutes of dialogue. “I’ll be right back.”

“What are you doing?” America calls after me.

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