Page 2 of More Than an Ex-Girlfriend

I whisper scream, “Layla, seriously. How many people do I hide from?”

She looks down at me, not even bothering to pretend she isn’t talking to someone on the floor. “I’ve only known you a few months. So I’m not completely sure.” She winks, then looks toward a table in the back. “Looks like the ranch hands decided to have dinner together. I should probably go say hello to Nico’s cousin. I’m not sure when Dag will finally clue in that his best friend is in love with him. He’s clueless, which makes it hard to be around him, but he’s almost family, so I’ll be nice.”

I met Dag once and live in fear that he’d tell Archer that I’m here in town, but so far that hasn’t happened. I guess whatever Nico said to his cousin motivated him to keep his mouth shut.

I need to get out of this place without being seen. “Donottell them I’m here.”

“No worries. I’ll tell them to completely ignore the woman crawling out of the restaurant.” She bites her lip, but it doesn’t hide her mischievous grin. “Need me to open the door so that you can slither out?”

“Please. And I’m not slithering. I’m just leaving.”

“Right. You look like a racoon scurrying away from a trashcan.” She pushes open the door. “Bye. And keep in mind what I said about insanity.”

I don’t need a reminder that my behavior isn’t normal. I’m on my hands and knees in a public place to avoid my ex. Normal and I have zero overlap on a Venn diagram.

After crawling out the door and around the corner of the building, I stand and dust off my jeans. At least here on the side of the building there aren’t massive windows.

So much for dinner out. I’ll be pulling through a drive-thru and taking my food home. Because now, after hearing Archer’s laugh, I have a lot of feelings—mostly regret—that need to be soothed with calories.

I start the engine, and my phone dings.

Layla:I’m getting our food to go. See you at the apartment in a few. And I got an extra banana pudding. Because Archer.

I send a thumbs-up in response and drive to the apartment. Hopefully, Layla hurries with that barbecue because my emotions are tangled in a giant knot.

* * *

Layla handsme the last banana pudding, then flops onto the sofa. “Okay, so I ate all that food and waited for you to bring it up, but you didn’t, so I’m bringing up Archer.”

“There really isn’t much to talk about.”

She shakes her head. “Then you listen. I’ll talk. First of all, he’s a cutie. I hadn’t met Archer before. But Dag introduced him when I went over to say hello. A bunch of the guys were there. I can see why you are still hung up on him. I mean, he’s no Nico, but no one is.” She sighs. “Anyway, we need to figure out a way for you to talk to Archer. Because the way you’re handling it is going to end badly. I can feel it.”

“As soon as I figure out what to say, I’ll have Tessa arrange a meeting.” That shouldn’t be hard because the woman who owns the donut shop, my boss, is married to the ranch owner’s son. And from what I see and hear, they are like one big family out there.

That makes me happy for Archer. He deserves that. After losing his parents when he was eleven, his only family was his grandmother. She is not my favorite person. Was, rather. But if I explained why, I’d be speaking ill of the dead, and that feels wrong. Reason number two I can’t tell Archer why I broke up with him.

Layla stands and props her hands on her hips. “Or maybe move on. If you aren’t all hung up on him, it’ll be easier to talk to him. Right? Then when you see him, you just say ‘Oh, hi! You’re looking good. How are things?’ And then go on with your life. Because right now, you don’t have a life, Lettie. You are like a trash panda that sneaks around in the dark. Something has to change.”

I nod, knowing in the deepest parts of me that she’s right. But I don’t like the comparison to a raccoon. Even if it sort of fits right now. “Maybe I should move on.”

“I’m not going to tell you what to do, only that you need to do something. Because I care about you. And I want to see you happy.” She wraps me in a hug. “Want me to cancel plans with Nico so that we can watch a movie or something?”

“Absolutely not. Go and have fun. I’m fine.” I’m not, but making her stay home will only make us both gloomy.

Twenty minutes later, I’m alone in the apartment. I reach for my phone and download a social media app. I’m not ready to stop avoiding people in real life, so if I’m going to move on even an inch, it’ll have to be online. So tonight, I’ll throw some thoughts out into the void and see what connections it brings. Maybe I’ll meet someone who will help me move on.

It's hard to imagine anyone making me laugh like Archer did, but I can’t win if I don’t play. Right?

I stare at the space where I’m supposed to enter a username, and thanks to Layla, all I can think of are raccoons, so I call myself Regretful-Raccoon.

Then I let my fingers fly across the keyboard, and I pour out my heart in such a way that no one would ever know it was me or that I actually broke up with anyone. It wasn’t exactly pouring, more like dribbling my heart into the post. But it’s the first time I’ve opened my heart since I broke it, so it feels significant.

CHAPTER2

ARCHER

Stretched out in bed, I read posts on Reddit. It’s a nightly ritual at this point. I scan my feed until a headline snares my attention and makes me want to read the post.

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