Page 33 of The Jerk in Apartment 1B

“You look fine.” Scott hands me a menu. “Here. Have whatever you want.”

When I open the menu, I’m shocked when I see the prices. “This place is expensive. You sure you don’t want to go somewhere else?”

“Just pick something. Don’t worry about what it costs.”

Asher would never say that. He was really careful with money. When we’d go out, he’d set a budget for what we could spend. And yet he had no problem spending money on things for himself, like golf clubs, suits, tech gadgets, expensive watches.

The waitress arrives and we place our orders. I’m so hungry I could eat everything on the menu. I was going to get groceries, but then I got to thinking about Asher and what happened and I broke down crying. I’d probably still be crying if Scott hadn’tknocked on my door. I hope he didn’t hear me. I was trying to be quiet.

“Chicago, huh?” Scott says, folding his hands and resting them on the table. “That’s where you grew up?”

“Yeah, my family’s still there. And my best friend, Callie. I really miss her. I haven’t seen her in over a year. I haven’t even met her new baby.”

“Why haven’t you been back?”

“I was busy with work and planning my—” I stop before saying it.

“Planning your what?” Scott asks.

Should I tell him? I’m trying not to think about it, and talking about it will make me think about it.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say as our drinks arrive. I ordered a coffee because I’m tired and really need the caffeine. Scott ordered a green tea smoothie, which makes me wonder if he’s a health nut. But he eats cinnamon rolls, so maybe not.

I haven’t decided what I think about Scott. Is he really the immature party guy I thought he was, or is there more to him than that?

“I’m curious,” he says. “What were you planning?”

“I wasn’t really planning it. I mean, I kind of was, but not officially. It was more like I was gathering ideas. I couldn’t really do anything until we picked a date.” I look down at the table as an overwhelming sadness comes over me. I was so excited to plan my wedding. To marry Asher.

“You were engaged,” Scott says.

“Yeah,” I mutter.

“And now you’re not.”

“He ended it.” I look over at Scott. “Friday night.”

“Shit,” he says, rubbing his jaw. “And you had no idea it was coming?”

I shake my head. “I was shocked. I still am.”

“How long were you two together?”

“Four years. We were engaged for six months. We put off picking a date because we were both so busy with our jobs we didn’t have time to plan a wedding. Then I lost my job and was going to use the time off to plan the wedding, but… it’s not happening.”

“When was this? When did you lose your job?”

“Last Friday.” I sigh. “It was a really bad day.”

“Sounds like it,” he says, leaning back in the booth. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

“Why would you?” I say with a shrug. “You just met me. I wouldn’t have even told you, but you asked, so…” I pick up my coffee and take a sip.

“I assume you lived with him?”

I nod. “It was his apartment. And everything in it was his.”

“That’s why you don’t have anything.”

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