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"Ahe--if anything--heating up

"Cam" I reached foron the tirew tenfold Not even eight On a Saturdaythe blanket overher date I had a pretty good idea of who it was, especially when I heard the smooth scrape of an accent whisper her na despitetheir whispered goodbyes, I fell back asleep and was spared anything more ’til noon, when Ca sushi and sake

An hour later, and I would scream if I heard Dante’s name one ht have been a teensy bit jealous,and silent Italian

Plus, to be honest, hoould it be if this turned into anything--my co-worker and my best friend? Chances were it wouldn’t In the five years I’d known Cammie, she’d never had a relationship last more than a few months Her eye … wandered That was the nicest way to say it Tell her she couldn’t touch so her fingers in Benta, on the other hand … well, Benta eird I could spend an entire week talking about her crazy love life, one that included some of the freakiest sex on the planet

After two sake boot any irritation about being woken up early Ca at us as she dissected every last moment with Dante, so I couldn’t help but be happy for her on that front too Not that I could really stayon the streets

We left lunch slightly buzzed, stu present, where she wandered to bed I found cleaning supplies, deteruest Ever and clean the kitchen I had Spotify playing, a Lysol wipe in hand, and was on a stool, ee, when I ers closed on it without thought, pulling it out, the box instantly recognizable, a powder blue one with a tag that ht fist I stepped off the stool and wondered why, in the jumble of healthy crap that had been in that cabinet--there was a jewelry box with my name on it

I didn’t have to wonder too h handwriting on a crisp white tag My denied engage had been Harry Winston, but every birthday, Valentine’s, and "just-because" present was fro the label’s white ribbon with a treer Half of ift The other half wanted to drive to the closest du the box inside Vic had picked this out Thought of irl who’d spent Christently tugged on the ribbon and lifted the lid, seeing a folded note on top

When I opened the note, the spicy scent of him floated up from the linen stock

My love,

I will think of you every Christmas for the rest of my life I hope, whatever you do this year, you are happy

Always yours,

Vic

I set it down, , the words painful to read I picked up the box and looked at the pendant earrings, delicate clusters of diaer stone Perfect Not that I had expected anything less I closed the box and pushed it back, lowering my head ’til it rested on the counter and allowed myself a ly as I did ere together Yes, he’d broken my heart But it had taken every bit of iveness, when he’d drunkenly professed his devotion to me from a busy street while I stayed cozy innot to hear When he’d cried The et ht that I was scared I’d never rip it free

I hated him

I loved him

I wanted him