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"You’re never going to believe who’s here,"she breathed

FrouessI looked across the crowded rooroup of his friendsIt wasn’t painful at all to see hi for hiedat ain, he was alroaned, but met his eyes as he approachedHe was alone- he had left his friends congregated across the roo, just as I could feel Jenn and Jess holding their breaths for my reaction

"Macy, can we talk?"he asked hesitantly, his face hopeful and afraid at the saer as he thru I couldn’t believe that I had ever thought he was beautifulHe was cute, in a pale toddler-sort-of-way, but he was nowhere near Hasani’s level of devastatingly good looks

"What about?"I asked brightlyJenn choked on her egg roll and I shot her a look

"You knohat about,"he responded patiently"Could we speak alone?"He gestured toward a nearby table, but Iat hi to say"

"Macy, please,"he begged"Please don’t throo years over thisPlease"

His light green eyeslookBut I found that it didn’t break er,at him steadily, I replied firmly, "I’m not the one who threo years, DerekYou didI hope that you and Tara are very happy together"

Breaking our gaze, I went back toit around on an, but Jenn interrupted hio now, Derek,"she instructed sharply"Macy is done with youSay hi to your new girlfriend for us"

Jenn and Jess collapsed into giggles and he glared at therily before he stalked awayJess stared at s and delivering therinned

I couldn’t help but smile backMy heart was still broken, but it wasn’t because of DerekFor all I cared, he and Tara Wilson could getto hts were consumed by another face a beautiful, darkly handso shiny hairI inhaled sharply at the memory and Jess’ perceptive eyes flew to my face

"Are you okay?Was it too soon to joke?"Worry creased her fine features

"No,"I shook h I loved these girls, I foundCleopatraShe would understand- I wouldn’t even have to explainI sighed a heavy sigh and continued eatingweeksMy thoughts frequently returned wistfully to Alexandria, rance of the jaset the drawbacks of ancient Egyptian life- including the lack of electricity, plu and modern medicineOh- and the crazy eunuch who had wanted to kill me

On one restless afternoon, I went back to the mall alone and found a perfume store where they created custom perfume oilI tried to recreate the perfume that I wore in Alexandria- the soft, subtle scent that had et close, even if it wasn’t exactly the saypt every tied to find a tattoo artist that specialized in henna… and I had a phoenix tattooed on my back, just like I wore in Alexandria My mother almost had a heart attack until she realized that henna tattoos were temporary and would wear off in a nored Derek at swi that at first troubled hiotten that he was the one who had erred, the back-stabbing cheaterIn hisAnd surprise, surpriseWithin aon her short orange fingerPuke

Ever since she had divorced my dad, my mom had become ultra-sensitive to break-ups, in part because of her psychiatrist friendsShe bought a stack of self-help books to helpthat I was depressed over DerekIt was a logical, if inaccurate, assu sadness ste Hasani, Cleopatra and Antony in a previous life That would have been a little i harnessed into a straight-jacket But whatever- that was a moot point because I would never say a word

Myincredibly patient with everything around the houseI had forgotten to pick up ritted her teeth and simply smiled at meThat part was nice because she was usually a little OCD about things like that

After school let out for the suWithout school to occupy It see at ho poetry about an unna it up, I saw that it wasfro down another lineHis eyes melted into the darkness as he hovered above e favor?I leftit to me?I feel naked without it"

She sounded rushed and very professionalI knew she must have a full day of patientsI doubted she would even break for lunch

"Sure, just let rab you a sandwich for lunch, too"

I could hear h the phone

"Have I told you lately what a great daughter you are?"she laughed"Thanks, sweetieYou’re the best"

I threw on a pair of shorts and a tank top, yanking a brush throughto take the ti my keys and purse, I jumped into my car and took off for the deli

As I pulled into the parking lot, I groanedIt was packed- hardly even a parking spotIt was barely even 11:00, so apparently the lunch rush started early in this place I sighed and slipped in the door, takingline