Page 58 of Ruined Promises

“Are you going to tell me that you’re going to shower and turn the shower on but in reality, as soon as I leave, you’ll either barricade yourself in your room, refusing to come out, or bolt from the apartment?”

They both sound like good plans, but damnit, why didn’t I think of them first. No matter what I say, Hadley will most likely be camped outside the bathroom door till I’m done.

“I’m going to shower,” I say, slowly avoiding my reflection in the mirror because I know I look rough. Enough to scare even Freddy Kreuger away.

“Promise?” She places her hands on my upper arms, spinning me around to face her.

“I promise.” I hold my pinky out in front of me and lace hers with mine. We interlock pinkies and laugh. “That was too weird. That was such a Brynn and Cal thing to do.”

“Okay, I’ll leave you to shower. I’m going to finish getting ready. Knock on my door when you’re ready.”

“Yes, Mom,” I joke, pushing her out of the room.

I quickly shower and wrap my hair in a towel along with my body. One of my favorite things about this apartment, besides sharing it with my best friend, is the closet. It is hands down the best thing ever. I search my closet for something to wear. My heart hurts as I pass thedressI wore at the office holiday party where Ben and I got together and the outfit from the night we met. I push them to the back of the closet. Maybe it’s time to go shopping for a new wardrobe.Finally,I settle on a white lace-overlay dress and a black biker jacket with black booties.

With my hair curled and makeup done,I grab my phone, keys, andablack clutch. I knock on Hadley’s bedroom door, and she swings the door open, wearing an entirely different outfit than earlier. I’m not surprised. Hadley is the type of person to try on multiple outfits for an event before deciding on the right outfit. She’s now wearing dark skinny jeans, black boots, and a purple sparkly top. Long necklaces of assorted sizes are laced down her neck. Ilifta few strands with my finger.

“Umm, excuse me, I’m pretty sure those are mine.”

She shrugs, closing her door and locking it. “Yeah, well, it’s taken you what, five years for you even to notice, so I’m keeping them.” She loops her arm through mine, and we make our way to the elevator. “I called an Uber while getting ready.”

“Where we headed?” I ask as the elevator dings on the main floor.

“I was thinkingofEiffel Park.” I stop in my tracks. When she realizes I stopped walking, she spins to face me. The color has left my face, and then it hits her why I hesitated.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry, Lex. We don’t need to go there.”

Would I ever be able to go there again and not think about Ben? Not think about the first moment I felt his hands on me, the first moment his lips touched mine, or the first moment he gave me a mind-blowing orgasm? But morethan that, I fell in love with a man who I can never have.

“No, let’s go. I want to dance.” Dancing sounds like the perfect way to escape my head.

Two hours and an endless number of tequila shots later, Hadley took a break on the dance floor and is now standing by the bar while Iremainon the dance floor. I see her looking in my clutch but blow it off when I feel hands grip my waist and pull me against a hard chest.

His hands don’t feel anything like Ben’s, his scent smells nothing like him, and I welcome the difference. I let the tequila flow through my veins and the music flow through my soul while allowing myself to get lost in his touch.

At least for one night, I can feel something other than heartache.

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