Page 13 of Second Chances

Meanwhile, I was eyeing her bottle, wondering how much she’d had to drink from it. She’d just been in the hospital for dehydration. Alcohol was something she shouldn’t be drinking right now. But then again, whatever this news was, it didn’t seem to be good.

“Uh, Chloe…”

She shoved her phone at me, and I didn’t finish what I was going to say, so I could look.

It was an Instagram post from my ex-girlfriend, Tracy. And it looked like she was getting married to Darren.

“Oh,” I said, handing the phone back.

Chloe straightened in her seat and leaned forward. “Oh? All you have to say is,oh?”

I shrugged. “Yeah. I mean, she’s my ex. That was five years ago. I’ve moved on.”

Grabbing her bottle, Chloe slunk down on the lounge. “Just when I thought you were the one person who would understand…”

I closed my eyes. I was a jerk.

I turned in my seat and looked at her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d still have feelings for Darren after five years. That was insensitive of me.”

She scowled. “I don’t have feelings for him.” She shuddered. “Tracy is welcome to him.”

Now, I was confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Why is he in a happy relationship and I’m not? He cheated on me. He should be miserable. He should be the one looking at pictures of me getting engaged and feeling sorry for himself.”

“You’re feeling sorry for yourself?”

“Do I have to say yes?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “No.”

“Do you know that for my twenty-fifth birthday, I actually thought he was going to propose?” She rubbed her forehead. “I feel stupid, saying it out loud now, but we’d been together a few years, and we were living together. Plus, I found a jewelry box in his coat and made myself hold off on opening it because I didn’t want to ruin the surprise any more than I already had.”

I winced. “Please don’t tell me it was something for Tracy.”

She chuckled. “No, it was for me. But it was earrings. Thankfully, he gave them to me before a party, so I didn’t have to put on a fake smile in front of all my friends.”

“I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

“Don’t be sorry. I didn’t tell anyone but a few of my closest friends. They convinced me that we were still young and he’d ask me sooner rather than later. Instead, he was cheating on me.” She held up one hand. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m super glad that he didn’t ask me to marry him, but I can’t help but think,Why her and not me?” She turned her head away, as if she were ashamed. “What’s wrong with me that no one picks me?”

Oof. That was a loaded question and one I was not fit to answer because I didn’t know what to say.

Chloe picked up her bottle and took a couple big gulps.

“Chloe, I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring your feelings, but do you think that drinking is wise after what happened today?”

She looked at me and burst out laughing as she shoved the bottle at me.

I took it from her and spun it around to read the label.

Sparkling grape juice.

“I’m sad, not an idiot.”

I frowned. “I never said you were an idiot.”

“You’re right. You didn’t.” She sighed. “I just feel like one.”

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