Page 3 of Sweet Dreams

Kelly returned with two generous glasses of wine and a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. She handed Beth a glass and a spoon before settling beside her on the couch.

"Alright, spill," Kelly said, sipping her wine. "I want all the gory details."

Beth took a long drink, the wine warming her from the inside. "There's not much to tell. I came home early to surprise him. Instead, I found him in bed with Gina."

Kelly's eyebrows shot up. "Gina? As in, your new cashier Gina? The one who can barely count change without using her fingers?"

Beth nodded miserably. "That's the one."

"Oh, honey." Kelly wrapped an arm around Beth's shoulders. "I'm so sorry. What did you do?"

"I kicked them both out," Beth said, stabbing her spoon into the ice cream with perhaps more force than necessary. "Fired Gina on the spot."

Kelly nodded approvingly. "Good. That little home wrecker doesn't deserve your kindness." She paused, then added softly, "Are you okay?"

Beth opened her mouth to say she was fine, but the lie stuck in her throat. Instead, fresh tears welled in her eyes. "No," she whispered. "I'm not okay at all."

Kelly pulled her into another hug, and Beth let herself cry. She cried for the three years she'd invested in a relationship that had crumbled in an instant. She cried for the future she'd imagined with Keith, now nothing more than a fading dream. And she cried for herself, for being so blind, so trusting.

As her sobs subsided, Kelly handed her a tissue. "You know what the worst part is?" Beth said, wiping her eyes. "I feel like such an idiot. How did I not see this coming?"

"Hey, none of that," Kelly said firmly. "You are not an idiot. Keith is the idiot for throwing away the best thing that ever happened to him."

Beth managed a weak smile. "You're biased."

"Damn right I am," Kelly agreed. "And as your biased best friend, it's my duty to remind you that you are amazing. You built Sweet Dreams from the ground up. You make the best damn pastries in all of Upstate New York. And you have curves that most women would kill for."

Beth laughed despite herself. "Now you're just laying it on thick."

"I'm serious!" Kelly insisted. "Beth, you're a catch. And if Keith couldn't see that, then he doesn't deserve you."

Beth sighed, leaning back against the couch. "I know you're right. It's just... we were together for three years, Kel. I thought he was the one. I thought we had a future together."

Kelly squeezed her hand. "I know, sweetie. But maybe this is the universe's way of telling you that there's something better out there for you."

Beth snorted. "What, like my soulmate is just going to fall out of the sky?"

A mischievous glint appeared in Kelly's eye. "Well, maybe not out of the sky. But have you ever considered online dating?"

Beth nearly choked on her wine. "Online dating? Kelly, I just caught my boyfriend cheating on me. The last thing I want to do is jump back into the dating pool."

"Hear me out," Kelly said, holding up a hand. "I'm not saying you need to find your next husband tomorrow. But it might be good for you to put yourself out there. Remind yourself that there are other fish in the sea."

Beth shook her head. "I don't know, Kel. It seems so... impersonal. And what if I end up meeting some creep?"

"That's why you start slow," Kelly explained. "Just chat online for a while. Get to know someone before you even think about meeting in person. And who knows? Maybe you'll connect with someone who makes you forget all about stupid Keith."

Beth bit her lip, considering. The idea of opening herself up to someone new was terrifying. But the alternative-wallowing in misery over Keith–wasn't much better.

"I'll think about it," she said finally.

Kelly beamed. "That's my girl. Now, how about we finish this ice cream and work on our Keith voodoo doll?"

Beth laughed, feeling lighter than she had all evening. "You're ridiculous. But I love you for it."

"I love you too, sweetie," Kelly said, clinking her wine glass against Beth's. "And trust me, this is just the beginning of a new chapter for you. The best is yet to come."

Beth allowed herself to hope as they settled in for a night of wine, ice cream, and Keith-bashing Maybe Kelly was right. Maybe this was the start of something new. And maybe, just maybe, there was someone out there who would love her the way she deserved to be loved.

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