Page 44 of David

“Precisely.”

“Who is she?”

“I have no idea. A student? I told you she was at that party. She must be a student.”

“You said he’d never met her before.”

“I suspected he hadn’t met her before,” I murmur, my eyes on the petite woman.

Her hair is pulled into two buns atop her head, and she looks cute. It fits her.

I would never be able to pull off that look.

Her large pants and sequined top go well with her hairdo, while he looks casual in his slim fit pants and fitted top.

This is the most fashionable I’ve ever seen him, and I begin to wonder if we’ve ever been a good match.

He’s never dressed up for me.

And yet… I thought we had something.

He loved watching documentaries about old archeological sites, and I thought we’d travel the world and make money blogging.

He wasn’t into clubs or not wearing socks to make a bold fashion statement.

And now that he is, my evening is kind of ruined.

“Do you happen to know her name?” Chloe asks.

“No,” I say and swivel in my seat, no longer wanting to talk about him.

It’s only fitting to signal to the bartender and ask for a glass of hard liquor. Not a muscle moves on my face when Chloe’s hand finds mine.

My dark expression registers with the bartender, who swiftly fulfills my order.

“Don’t let Klaus get to you,” she murmurs like she’s never had a drop of alcohol in her blood all this time.

I get my drink and finish it in one gulp. With my head held back, my jaw locked, and a wince on my face.

I’d get a second drink, but I’m a lightweight when it comes to drinking, pretty much like Thea, and the last thing I want is to look like I’ve gotten wasted because of my ex and his new girl.

I told her that she could have him, and that particular moment was sad and funny at the same time.

Maybe Chloe was right.

Maybe they knew each other, and he’d cheated on me way before I found out they had the hots for each other.

“Do you know what Thea said after her first marriage unraveled?” I say quietly, my eyes pinned on the bar mirror.

People down their drinks, flirt, and have a good time.

It’s like we live in two different worlds.

“She said a lot of stuff.”

I flick my gaze to Chloe.

“After the whole thing was over, and she found out Nolan had slept with other women besides the one he was with when he left Thea… And there were other love stories, and more indiscretions. Even though she felt nothing for him at that point, she was still hurt. Because that’s the thing. It still hurts, and you feel guilty for everything that happens, as if it’s your fault. It’s the worst.”

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