Page 145 of Divorced from Number Thirty-Eight
I lift my hands in surrender. “I don’t have anyone to tell. But I’m a vault too.”
She laughs softly. Then sighs and says, “It was…well, it was magic. The connection I felt. Our”—another glance at Bri, more pink cheeks—“time together. And when I fell asleep with his arms around me, I felt…safe.”
I reach for her again, tighten my hand around hers, knowing the worst is yet to come.
“Then I woke up,” she whispers. “And he was gone. No note. No text.”
Luna scowls, lips parting.
“But he came by the shop just as I was closing,” Harper goes on in a hurry.
Luna’s mouth snaps closed.
“And then…” She shakes her head, finishes softly. “He made it damned clear that our night together was a mistake.”
Her words slice through me.
Because it’s heartbreak in a different disguise—instead of broken promises and running from what might be…it’s an empty bed and magic that turns out not to be real.
“Oh, Harper,” Luna whispers, clamping her hand over her chest.
“I thought it was something it wasn’t.” A shrug. “That’s on me.”
Luna’s expression is thunderous. “No, it’s not. He shouldn’t have?—”
“We were two consenting adults. We made no promises and had a really great night together.” Her smile is forced. “I’m going to ask you to leave it at that.”
They face off.
But Harper doesn’t give in—and eventually (and to my surprise) Luna does.
“Fine,” she grumbles. “But I need to make it clear to this room of intelligent women that Leo is being an idiot.” Her gaze comes to mine. “Along with Gray, in case that wasn’t obvious.” Her nose wrinkles. “And all I can say is that this shit better not be spreading.”
We’re quiet again—and my silence is for a completely different reason this time.
And I know I not the only one feeling the same way when Harper says, “You’re good people, Luns.”
“I just?—”
“You are,” Bri says firmly.
“Yes,” I agree, my heart shattered and still somehow full. Because I’m not alone. “The best kind of people.”
“The best,” Kailey semi-repeats.
Luns sniffs.
Then waves a hand in front of her face. “Ugh! Don’t make me cry! Pregnancy hormones are the worst and I don’t want to spend the rest of the afternoon blubbering. Especially wh-when I th-think you guys are the b-best t-too?—”
Kailey sniffs, dashes a finger beneath each eye, clearly struggling with pregnancy hormones herself.
Crap.
Now my eyes sting—and I don’t have the excuse of growing a tiny human.
And Bri and Harper don’t look far behind me.
“Want to hear about my idea for my new book?” I blurt in order to save us all from dissolving into tears.
