Page 7 of A Bossy Proposal

“Let’s get a drink,” Carly yells, taking my arm. “You’re being paranoid. If anyone is looking at you, it’s because you’re hot.”

Finally convinced, we stumble off the dance floor, laughing, and grab a couple of stools at the bar.

“I warned you, Ames, that Jodie was a gold digger, and always has been. What did I say? She’s got a radar for guys with fat wallets.” Carly’s voice is softer now that we’re not vying with the music.

I wave my hand dismissively, feeling a weird sense of detachment. “It’s not like I’m surprised or anything. I mean, I’m angrier at myself for not seeing it sooner.” I shrug. “I’m over him, Carly. Honestly, I don’t even care about him right now. I just need to figure out what I’m going to do.”

Carly’s expression softens, and she reaches out to squeeze my hand. “What do you mean? You can’t go back to his place?”

I shake my head, a knot forming in my stomach. “No way. I was thinking maybe...could I crash at your place for a bit? Just until I sort out what I’m doing?”

Carly’s face twists into an apologetic grimace. “Ames, we’re already full up. We have three girls in a one-bedroom apartment, and that is crazy enough. There’s no space, Hun.”

“Oh.” A pang of desperation churns my gut.

Carly’s voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper. “Use his Amex for a few days. He owes you, Ames. You can get a nice hotel room or book an Airbnb for a week and take your time figuring out what you want to do.”

I stare at her, then down at the card in my purse, feeling a thrill of revenge.Yeah, Felix owes me. Big time.

“A bottle of your best champagne,” I tell the barman when he asks what we want. I just hope the Amex card doesn’t max out before I get to the hotel.

I glance over at Carly as her teeth scrape over her bottom lip. “You know he’s going to come crawling back, don’t you?”

I shrug my shoulders. “Probably.”

“Ames, don’t fall for it. He’s only going to hurt you again.”

I release a dry, humorless sound. “He’s dead to me.”

Carly’s expression remains skeptical. “You’re not saying that because you’re angry, are you?”

I shake my head, trying to reassure her. “No, Carly, I mean it. I’m done with him. I just need to find somewhere to live.”

Carly’s eyes narrow as if she’s trying to read my mind. But after a moment, she nods, seeming to accept my answer. “Good. Because you deserve so much better than him.”

We sit in silence for a moment, sipping our champagne as calmness washes over me. Probably the champagne and the bubbles tickling my nose, but I like it. Maybe I’ll be fine.

“I mean it,” Carly says. “When you meet the right person, you’ll never worry about him cheating on you. You’ll know he never will.”

Finding another man right now is low on my to-do list, but I get the sentiment. “Felix is just a stepping stone to finding true love.”

“Absolutely.” Carly seems to sense my mood shift, and says, “Come on, Ames. Let’s dance.”

I hesitate for a moment, but Carly’s energy wins me over. We finish our champagne, leaving the glasses on the counter, and then she drags me back onto the dance floor.

The music is just as loud, just as pulsating, but this time I’m ready to lose myself in the beat. Carly’s laughter echoes in myears as a sense of freedom I haven’t felt in a long time overcomes me.

But as I twirl, the room spins a bit too much. The fuzzy feeling in my head isn’t only from the champagne. I stumble, catching myself on Carly’s arm.

“I think...I need to go home,” I mumble as I stride off the dance floor, with Carly following.

Home.The word echoes in my mind.Where is home?Not Felix’s apartment, not anymore. The realization hits me like a ton of bricks, and suddenly I’m fighting back tears.

Carly’s face swims in front of me. “You okay, hon?”

“I’m fine, I need to get out of here,” I lie, pushing through the crowd towards the exit. “I need some air.”

Outside, the cool night air hits my face, and I gulp it down like my body is desperate for fresh air. A cab pulls up, and I practically fall into it.

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