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Yet he hadn’t called her and hadn’t been back

She rolled her eyes and took her bowl to the sink, rinsed it and put it in the dishwasher

Did she expect him to follow up, to chase her down like he’d pro with you? You don’t want or need him in your life except toroo and she picked it up, s when she saho it was

"Stella What’s up?"

"I’m downstairs Are you busy?"

"Not at all I just ca up Buzz me in"

Stella was Carolina’s best friend, and you just didn’t say no to her Besides, she could use the pick-y, she couldn’t think of a more perfect time for a visit She buzzed her up and went to the door to let her in

"Hello, love," Stella said as she breezed through the door and shrugged off her short leather jacket

"Your style always kills me, Stell," Carolina said

Stella looked down at herself "What’s wrong hat I’ You’re stunning as always" Carolina looked at Stella, alwaysat her friend’s fashion sense Stella was tall, so the black leggings showcased her aauzy top that rode to her hips, and finished the look with distressed combat boots With her spiky short blonde hair and her sexy, killer blue eyes, the wo, my ass And you look like shit Have you slept yet this year?"

"And to think I wanted to see you so you could brighten up my day"

"No you wanted to see me because you know I’ll bitch slap you with the truth You’re working too ht beer"

Carolina wrinkled her nose "When have I ever liked beer? And you know I have to work a lot right now"

"Whatever I’e And because I know you’re a beer hater, I also bought wine The good kind--not even frohed "You’re so sweet to think of "

Stella popped a beer, then fuet drawer for the corkscrew and drew the cork out of the wine bottle while Carolina grabbed a glass froht a cabernet You re a hip, Stella waved the corkscrew at her "Of course I remembered We’ve been friends for almost six years now"

"I know But you’d be surprised how many self-absorbed people I know"

Stella handed Carolina the glass, then lifted her beer and clinked it against Carolina’s wineglass "Honey, I work in the dancing world I know all about self-absorbed"

Carolina led her into the living rooaze strayed to the television and she cocked a brow "Hockey? You’re watching hockey?"

She knew she should have turned off the television before she let Stella in "It’sresearch"

"I’ll say Hot men, fast skates, all that adrenaline Yum" Stella propped her feet on the coffee table and took a sip of beer "Which one’s your favorite?"

She should’ve just blown it off and e as Drew Hogan He’s going to do so for the new line for me"

Stella looked at the TV, then leaned forward "No shit? You know hiuy I told you about, the one I had the drunken interlude with during college?"

Dragging her gaze frouy?"

"Yeah"

"That was Drew?"

"That was Drew"

Stella laid her feet on the floor and put her beer down "You have got to be kiddingtiht Correction He gave a big dick to you that night, and then he acted like a douche"

Carolina shook her head "We were both drunk"

"And he took advantage of you Then dumped you Asshole"

Carolina loved that her friend was so fiercely protective of her "It wasn’t exactly like that Did I make it sound like that?"

"You didn’t need to make it sound like that That’s hoasn’t it?"

She shrugged "Not really I in, but God, I chased after hiave me what I’d wanted What I asked him for It wasn’t his fault that he couldn’t--didn’t loveto hi than I would be"

"Clearly, you’re a mean bitch Who broke your heart so badly?"

"No one, because I won’t let a guy get within a mile of it I’ve seen too many of my friends messed up by men They’re all vicious heartbreakers Best not to fall in love, that way you won’t get hurt"

Carolina shifted on the sofa "Seriously? But you date a lot In fact, you’re always going out with guys"

"Exactly Different guys They’re fun, and they have penises, and if they knohat to do with the the feelings for one, he’s out the door"

After all these years of knowing Stella, she had no idea her friend felt this way about uy had broken her heart Why else would she protect it so fiercely?

She was so gorgeous Tall and lithe, with a killer figure and aShe could quite possibly be every man’s dream

"So who broke your heart, Stella? Seriously"