Page 2 of Go Find Less

Free time to read

Nonexistent FOMO

Lack of access for harassment by my shitbag former in-laws and their small town groupies

Cons:

Not up-to-date on current lingo

Hard to track fashion trends

Unaware of what literally anyone looks like in person anymore

So, when realization hits Jessica too, there’s a second of pause before she squeals, like Carla, and barrels into me, pulling me into a tight hug. Her squeeze surprises me, and my tense body relaxes as I hug back, laughing.

The joy Jessica radiates in seeing me catches me off guard. I had expected to be rebuffed. Indifference, maybe. But not happiness. We never really cleared things up before graduation, and then, like the majority of people I walked the stage with, I didn’t speak to her again.

“I’ve been keeping up with you on Penny’s social,” she says, grasping my hands in hers and giving me a sad smile. Oh. Well, that explains it. Penny, my older sister, was on the girl’s basketball team with Jessica until she graduated the year before us. I hadn’t really considered that the two might still be on speaking terms. “It looks like you’re doing so well for yourself.”

I blush. “Thank you,” I mutter, watching Jackie stand from her seat on the booth and hug Carla. “What have you been up to?” Jessica’s sad smile turns broad, and she lifts her left hand to show me the glittering diamond on her ring finger.

“My wife’s pregnant with our first.” Jessica is beaming, and I try my best to hide my astonishment. At the end of senior year, Jessica was dating Michael Valdez, the co-captain of the lacrosse team, a complete 180 from Andy, her ex -ourex. Clearly, things have changed.

“That’s amazing.” I grin, genuinely happy for her. She falls into the seat she was occupying, along with Kyle and Fallon, as Jackie comes up to hug me, that same sad smile as Jessica on her face. At this point, I’m used to it.

“How are you doing, Piper?” she asks, gripping my arm when she lets go of our hug.

I swallow, my well-rehearsed line already on my lips.

“Really well,” I say, meaning it, but also not wanting to tack on “considering the circumstances.” Widowed. Recovering alcoholic. Stuck designing for a manager who wouldn’t know silk from satin.

“Good.” Jackie gives my arm another squeeze before taking her seat again, patting the space next to her. Gingerly, I step in front of her, pulling my skirt under me as I take the seat. Carla plops down next to me. “And how is Alex?” Jackie asks. I smile to myself.

“Counting the days until she can see her toes again.” I set my tote on the seat next to me. Very, very pregnant with her first child, Alex, my best friend since kindergarten, is probably sitting by her phone, waiting for me to spill all the details of seeing anyone from high school. She knew how nervous I was to come after I filled her in on the way to this side of DFW. A waitress steps in from another table and leans over, notepad in hand.

“Can I get you ladies anything to drink?” She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and poises her pen to write.

“Caramel macchiato, oat milk,” Carla says, and I turn to the waitress.

“Make that two," I add.

She nods and looks around the table to make sure everyone else’s drinks are topped off.

“We’re waiting for one more.” Jackie cranes her neck to look over the crowd, and her eyes narrow, then go wide. “Just kidding, he’s here!” She stands, waving a hand excitedly at whoever she’s looking at. I lean toward Carla and gaze between Kyle and Jessica. Then I spot him.

Sauntering toward us, gazing between his phone and a frantic Jackie, is Fitz Westfall, student body Vice President and first-hand-witness to the swift and complete takedown of my good girl reputation, and everything that followed.

Chapter 2

Piper

Ten Years Ago

Istaredatthescreen laying on the desk in front of me, open mouthed.

What. The. Fuck.

I was scrolling mindlessly through my feed as we waited for the last few minutes of AP History to tick by, the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend. Then, I saw it. It’s like a bucket of ice water over my entire body. I sucked in a breath and leaned over, trying to get a closer look.

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