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“I know, I know. I wish I could flip a switch and stop caring.”

Mary pulls me into a hug. “I understand it takes time. You guys were together for so long. But you’re strong, the strongest person I know. You’ll get through it, and I’m going to help.” She gives me a little shake. “We need to get you out of this apartment.”

“I’m truly not in the mood.”

“Come on. It will be you, me, furniture, and our favorite gelato place after that. I’m thinking two extra large cups will do the trick.”

Oh, right? I forgot. We planned to shop for the apartment this weekend. After being best friends for so long, we move in together. We always talked about it, but it never worked out.

Now, with my divorce underway, Mary working at her father’s firm, and Lil, my other best friend, who left her fiancé at the altar, the timing couldn’t be better. All of us agreed that it’s time to start over somewhere else.

Our move is just a few months away, and the only things we have organized so far are the kitchen and a floor-to-ceiling picture of an ocean at sunset. Mary’s idea.

“Alright, alright.” I hold up my hands in defeat. “Just let me get dressed.”

Mary throws her fist into the air, bouncing up from the mattress. “Yes! Operation Furniture-Gelato Distraction is a go!”

“How was the last brunch with your mom?” I rummage through my closet to find something comfortable to wear.

“Horrible.” She mimics the voice of her mother. “How about finding a man? Who needs work? At your age, I was already married.”

“Hearing that, I’m kind of thankful for my mom now.”

“I don’t want to go there this weekend. Can we switch?”

“Nope.”

“Ugh. At least Ella got an asshole boyfriend.”

“That bad?”

“Yeah. You should have heard him after they walked out last Sunday at dinner. He said that nobody cares about her career and that she should do more charity work. I guess it sounds better in the papers if your girlfriend is Saint Maria.”

“It does, but what against an actress?”

“Exactly. And that wasn’t even the worst. He said she should eat less because she looks like a pig in skinny jeans. I should have told him to fuck off.”

I slip into my jeans and turn in front of the mirror. Seems fine. Still, some yoga sessions with Mary couldn’t hurt.

“We need to find someone for you. Someone who can erase that jerk from your memory.” Mary never was a fan of Oliver.

“Weren’t we talking about your sister?”

“That’s already lost hope, and I can’t do anything without her hating me more. But you…”

I twist towards her. Oh, no. “What’s with the smile?”

She cuddles the pillow to her chest and peers up at me with puppy eyes. “There’s a party tomorrow night that we can’t miss.”

“Why that?”

“Remember the guy I met online?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s going to be there.”

“Wait. You mean the guy you’ve been messaging all the time?”

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