Page 105 of Forty, Flirty & F*cked

Like I'd broken him.

My phone buzzes.

YASMIN: I know you said you didn’t need updates, but…

YASMIN: Just FYI

YASMIN: Also, your replacement starts next Monday

YASMIN: P.S. He’s miserable. I don’t know if that helps…

It doesn’t. And it does. I release a shaky breath, pocketing the phone.

"Here." Lily thrusts a glass of wine at me. "Drink this. Then we're having a fashion show."

"I don't need?—"

"A fashion show?" Kat appears, looking suspiciously unsurprised. "Good. Maybe we can finally burn that Elvis robe."

"It's evidence," I mutter into my wine.

"It's a cry for help." She drops onto a kitchen stool. "Though not as much as Dad's protein empire."

"Hey!" Dad protests. "The kidney support group loves my products!"

"The kidney support group is afraid of hurting your feelings." Lily starts laying out clothes. “And the new spokesman is... interesting."

I freeze. "What spokesman?"

"Oh, didn't I mention?" Dad brightens. “Will’s been helping with the marketing! He’s the one who initially gave me the idea—well, after I threatened to cut his balls off for what he did to you. But after the threats and knife-brandishing, you know, what he talked about made a lot of sense. Said something about 'authentic wellness journeys' and 'karmic balance through nutrition.'"

The wine glass slips from my grip.

Lily lunges to catch it, somehow managing to knock over Dad's experimental smoothie in the process. Green liquid explodes everywhere, coating the kitchen in what appears to be radioactive protein powder.

"Oops?" She offers.

"At least it's not glowing anymore," Kat notes.

I stare at the mess, remembering another kitchen disaster. Another family moment. Another time when everything felt possible instead of broken.

"Ariana?" Dad's voice is soft. "Sweetheart?"

"I'm fine." But I'm not. I'm really, really not. "I just... I need some air."

I flee to the back porch, Seattle's rain matching my mood as I sink onto the old swing. The same swing where Mom used toread to us, where she'd hold me during thunderstorms, where she...

Where she taught me that being strong means being alone.

I close my eyes, remembering everything I tried not to see in Monaco. The way Connor's hands shook when he walked away. The way his voice broke on that final lie about nothing being real.

The way he looked at me like he wanted to stay.

Like he wanted to be brave.

Like maybe he loved me too.

"You know," Kat's voice carries from the doorway, "Mom would have liked him."

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