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I hate that saying. If any guy would be lucky, why isn’t Chris? I give a watery chuckle, wiping at my nose. “You have to say that. You’re my best friend.”

“It’s the truth.” She throws her arms around me in a hug.

After a while, my tears slow, the jagged edges of my pain dulling to a steady ache while Gemma still holds me in her arms. My gaze drifts around the floor. Tissues, Gem’s bag and a crumpled piece of paper. Did I lose the one from Chris? Wait, no. The note from Chris was white, not yellow.

“What’s that?”

“What?” Gemma turns and stiffens, her cheeks flushing. She snatches up the paper before I can get a closer look. “It’s nothing. It’s trash.”

It’s not. Her voice pitches higher, a dead giveaway.

“It doesn’t look like nothing.”

Gemma avoids my gaze, fiddling with the note in her hands.

“Come on, spill.”

“I don’t…”

“I could use a distraction right now.”

“I met someone last night.”

“What?” My eyes fly wide. “Spill. Now.”

“His name is Elijah, and he’s handsome and sweet and… we…” She pauses, lips curving into a smile. “Clicked.”

Gemma frowns at the note, thumb brushing over the creases.

I nudge her with my foot. “Well? How was he?”

“He was… good.”

“Good?”

She giggles. “Okay, it was amazing. The best night of my life.”

I bounce on the couch, clapping my hands together. “I knew you had a secret boyfriend. When do I get to meet him?”

“He’s not my boyfriend. It was a one-time thing. I shouldn’t get my hopes up.”

“Don’t be silly.” While my own love life may be a disaster, at least Gemma found someone special. “So, when are you seeing him again?”

She passes the paper to me in silence.

8 pm. River’s on Vandam Street. I’ll be waiting for you, my gem. Love, Elijah

“He wants to see you? Tonight?”

Her eyes dart away. “I shouldn’t go.”

“You should definitely go.”

“I’m not sure.”

“The old Gem wouldn’t have hesitated.” I plaster on a wide smile, hoping to mask the ache in my chest. Now is about Gemma, not me.

“Don’t you think that’s too soon? After Oliver…”

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