Ella stands up.“It’s fine—do you want a selfie with me?”
“Yes!Ohmygod, a selfie with Cinderella?Yes!”The woman hurries over, phone clutched in her hand.“Thank you!”
They smile big and take the selfie.The woman thanks Ella several times and then returns to her seat across the coffee shop.
Only once she’s gone do I relax.
“Leah, are you okay?”Samantha cocks her head in my direction.
“Uh…yeah.Fine.”I shake my shoulders, trying to loosen up.“For a second, I thought she was trying to takemypicture.But thankfully, not everything is about me.”
“I’m perfectly happy letting Ella have the spotlight.”Samantha fiddles with a strand of blond hair that’s come loose from her bun.“But I want to look good for the benefit.What’s everyone wearing?”
We talk dresses and hairstyles.We even make plans to get our hair done together at Olivia’s place beforehand.The easy chatter reminds me of hanging out with Danica, and a pang of regret strikes me.She would love these women—they’re wholesome and funny and sassy.I wish Danica would respond to my texts, let me apologize again, forgive me.And as the conversation continues, I realize all three of these women are with two guys apiece.
Maybe there’s hope for a solid relationship with Dmitri and Gage, after all?I’m kidding myself, though.Imagining such a future will only hurt me more in the end.
“Hold on.”Ella interrupts my dark thoughts.“We have Olivi-uh, Ell-uh, Samanth-uh, and Le-uh.So we’re the Uhs.”
Olivia laughs.“That is, without a doubt, the dorkiest thing I ever heard.”
“Which makes it perfect.”Samantha claps her hands like she’s dusting them off.
I look between the three of them, marveling at how easily they brought me into their little group.Danica has been my only friend for so long, I didn’t know a group of girls could be like this.Fun, welcoming, generous.They make everything seem so easy.If I introduced Danica to the group, she could be the fifthUh.
The four of us exchange phone numbers before parting ways outside the coffee shop.Olivia immediately creates a group text.
Grinning to myself, I pop on my sunglasses and start walking back to Gage’s building.My heart feels lighter than it has in a long time.The sun is shining, the city is beautiful.
A feminine voice calls from behind me, “Hey, Leah!”
I turn around, expecting to see one of the Uhs, but the woman isn’t familiar at all.Long, blond hair falls straight down her back, and her eyes are hidden by sunglasses.
I lift my own sunglasses, hoping to see her better.“Sorry, do I know you?”
She’s running full-tilt, so I wait for her to catch up.Maybe I left something in the coffee shop.
She doesn’t slow down until she reaches me.
“Whore.”She shoves my shoulder.
I step back in surprise.A bystander gasps.Several other pedestrians gawk at us.
“Excuse me?”I rub my shoulder where she pushed me.It’ll bruise.My feet feel glued to the sidewalk.
I don’t know this person, I don’t have anything to do with her or her life.And she’s calling me a whore out of nowhere.Shoving me.
“You know what?Never mind.”I don’t want to fight.I turn around to hurry away.
“You don’t get to run away from me, you slut!”Her body barrels into mine from behind.
Not expecting to be body-checked in the middle of the sidewalk, I lose my balance.
Someone screams.
The ground rushes toward my face.
15
