Page 5 of The Breakup Broker

I just had to make it through the crying portion of my commute first.

Joe was waiting at my usual spot, a tissue box inmy seat. “Rough one?”

“He called me a contractor for feelings.” I slid into my designated space, the one with the conveniently placed window for staring dramatically at the passing scenery.

“Could be worse. Remember the guy who tried to hire you to break up with his wife?”

“That’s not a thing I do.” I pulled out the first tissue. “Also, pretty sure that’s just called divorce.”

The city fell away behind us as I worked through my post-breakup ritual. Five minutes of actual crying, ten minutes of wondering if I was helping anyone or just spreading misery like an emotional pyramid scheme, and the rest of the ride to put my River Bend face back on.

My phone lit up again.

Maddy

911—Need someone to test the proposal setup. The city denied my permit for releasing doves.

Ivy

They’re still mad about the pigeon incident?

Maddy

THEY WERE DOVES!

Maddy

I need someone to stand in the right spot so I can practice the drones’ timing.

Ivy

NO MORE DRONES.

Maddy

These are different drones! With better GPS!

Me

Like the ones that spelled out “Hairy Mole?” instead of “Marry Me?”

Maddy

I hate you both. Also, is wine night still on?

Me

After today? I’ll need two bottles.

Cork& Crown was bustling when I walked in, the Wednesday night crowd in full swing. Gloria Chen, River Bend’s owner—and Maddy’s mom—spotted me and started pulling my usual bottle before I even reached the bar. With her cozy sweaters, blunt humor, and lifelong ties to River Bend, Gloria was hardly the type you’d expect to own a trendy wine bar, but she somehow made it feel both chic and unpretentious.

“That bad, huh?” Gloria’s gaze settled on my smudged mascara. “And those eyes...” She tilted her head, studying me. “Remember when they were that electric blue? Like summer lightning? Now they’re more overcast—like the sky just before the rain breaks. And your hair...” Her lips curved, just barely. “Used to be that rich chestnut, but now? It’s looking a little like the River Bend mud banks after a flood.”

“My eyes are the same as they’ve always been.” I gripped the glass she had just poured like a lifeline.

Gloria’s expression grew tender. “I’ll send some of my conditioning treatment home with Maddy. I can fix your hair, sweetheart. The rest?” She caught my gaze in the mirrored backsplash and held it there, her voice gentlernow. “That sparkle will come back when you’re ready. Must’ve been a rough day.”

I sank onto my usual stool with a long sigh. “Could’ve been worse. At least I didn’t end up wearing his coffee.”

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