Page 48 of The Breakup Broker

Maddy

CODE HENRY??? Be there in 10.

Ivy

I'll be there in 5.

I glanced back at Henry, his face peaceful in sleep, dark lashes fanning against his cheeks. He looked younger like this, like the boy who used to sneak up to my window with coffee and dreams. My heart ached at the memory.

Focus, Savvy.

I dressed quickly and silently, years of practice sneaking around my parents' bookstore coming in handy. At my desk, I hesitated before scribbling a note:

Had to run out. Used the last K-Cup, so you’ll have to go downstairs if you want coffee.

Sav

Short. Professional. Nothing like the emotional mess churning inside me.

Would I regret this note the way I'd regretted letting him stay? Or would I regret not writing something more? Something that acknowledged how he'd whispered"forever"against my skin, the way I'd wanted desperately to believe him?

I dressed and crept down the back stairs, praying they wouldn't creak and alert my mother. The last thing I needed was to explain why I was sneaking out of my apartment at dawn.

I stepped onto the sidewalk, exhaling in relief—until I rounded the corner and nearly collided with my mother.She stood outside, a spray bottle in one hand, a squeegee in the other, washing the bookstore’s front windows.

Her gaze flicked from my messy hair to my wrinkled clothes, then past me to Henry Kingston’s very distinctive, verystill parkedcar.

She arched an eyebrow. “Going somewhere?”

“Uh… meeting the girls for breakfast,” I blurted out, smoothing a hand over my hair like that would somehow erase the evidence.

Mom hummed, giving the window an exaggerated swipe. “Mmm hmm. And would this early morningbreakfast meetinghave anything to do with Henry Kingston still being upstairs?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing resembling an actual excuse came out.

She just smiled. “Thought so.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. "Mom?—"

"I'm just saying," she continued, "maybe it's time to consider an apartment that isn't connected to your mother's workplace."

"Trust me," I muttered, "that thought has crossed my mind."

I started to walk away, then hesitated. "Mom?"

She didn’t even look up from her window washing. "Don't worry, honey. I won't tell your father.Yet."

Perfect. Just perfect.

I turned onto Main Street, walking fast, as if I could outpace the growing list of complications in my life. Mrs. Patterson was already out with her tiny dog, and the perceptive glance she shot me suggested today's neighborhood watch update would be anything but dull.

Timeless Treats glowed like a beacon ahead, the smell of fresh pastries and coffee drawing me in. Icould see through the window that Ivy and Maddy had claimed our usual corner booth. Karen, the owner, was heading their way with what looked like emergency-sized portions of everything.

The bell chimed as I pushed through the door, and my friends' heads snapped up.

"Spill," Ivy demanded the moment I slid into the booth. "Every. Single. Detail."

"Starting with why you look like you've been thoroughly—" Maddy began.

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