I don’t have enough curse words for that… that turd.
My friendship with Roxy is the one good thing that came from being cheated on by my high school sweetheart.
A thick knot forms in my throat, and my vision blurs. “I hate him,” I whisper.
“I know, babe. It’ll be okay.”
“He wasted so much of my time.” Not to mention he was a bad boyfriend. He never held my hand or kissed me in public. Never invited me to his college football games. Never did anything sweet or romantic. I had a long-running fantasy that he’d finally get me tickets to see him play, and after the win, he’d jump into the stands and kiss me. Total foolishness. Someone should’ve knocked some sense into me a long time ago.
“Don’t let him waste any more. By you going on this date, you’re proving that you’re over him.”
I nod and reach for my lip gloss. “You’re right.”
“I know it. Now get your cute little ass to the bar. And hey, look on the bright side. That asshole probably won’t get drafted.”
Roxy doesn’t mean to hurt my feelings, but those words cut me deep. Because somewhere during the four years Ezra and I dated, his dream of playing professional football became my dream too. I would’ve done anything to help him.
Ugh, I really need to get a life.
“Get going, Abby. Call me later and let me know what happens.”
“Okay, and hey, thanks for hooking me up with Paige. She seems really sweet.” Since I can’t afford living by myself anymore, Roxy helped me find a roommate. I’m moving in with her friend from cheerleading this summer.
“You’re going to love her. She’s fun and outgoing and will push you out of your comfort zone.”
“I need all the pushing. Especially since you’re leaving soon.” Roxy is literally my only friend at Lone Star State. Her fiancé Billy is about to get drafted, and they’ll be off living their dream lives.
“Don’t jinx us!”
I rap my knuckles against the cabinet. “I knocked on wood. There’ll be no jinxing.”
After we hang up, I take out my one contact, strip off my lopsided lashes, and throw on my glasses. Roxy’s right. I have to start living again.
But two hours and four cups of coffee later, my heart sinks when I realize I’ve been stood up.
“Would you like another refill?” the bartender asks. At least he didn’t give me the stink eye when I didn’t want booze.
“I’m pretty jittery. I’d better pass, but thank you. I appreciate you letting me sit here all night.”
“Sure thing, honey.”
Glancing around, I close my book and tuck it into my bag. Self-conscious, I push up my glasses and pat my messy bun. Did my date take one look at me and bolt? Did he see me reading and think I’m a nerd?
For the record, I am a giant bookworm.
Also, I’m not the most fashion-conscious person I know. I tend to wear jeans or khakis and button-up sweaters. I suppose you’d call my look a librarian vibe. So maybe it’s not super sexy, but does one really need to look sexy on a first date with someone you’ve never met before except via a dating app? Really, my simple cardigan and tan pants seem like the smart thing to wear. Stranger danger and all that.
But no amount of self-pep-talking makes me feel any better. My legs feel weighted down like concrete pillars as I trudge out of the cantina. The night air is chilly, and I wrap my sweater tighter around me. At least I tried, right? That has to count for something. Plus, I enjoyed reading that new romance novel. Enemies-to-lovers gets me every time. There’s just something so hot about a guy who hates you seeing the real you and falling in love when it’s the last thing he wants.
Someone shouts my name, and I freeze. That voice sounds familiar. Too familiar. Icy cold dread slithers down my spine when I realize why, and I close my eyes.
“Abigail, hey, do you have a sec?”
Maybe this is a bad dream, but when I open my eyes again, Ezra is still standing there, looking as handsome as ever. Except I know that underneath his pretty facade is a pitch-black soul.
Funny how I used to think he was my prince. The truth is, he’s just a frog with a million warts, and I’m a hopeless romantic who’s read too many fairy tales.
“I don’t have anything to say to you.” Until I found out he cheated on me, I never really stood up to him when he was being an asshole. I always brushed off the little things. I won’t be that girl again.
