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“Show me,” Danica said, holding out her hand. She’d normally not be so demanding about seeing his phone — she’d never asked before, but she was so done. So done with this entirecharade. Something felt very wrong here, and she’d spent her entire life silencing that gut feeling, but not anymore.

Eddie stared at her for a long, uncomfortable moment. Then he sighed and pulled his phone from the pocket of his khakis, typed in his passcode, and handed the phone to Danica. She opened his Instagram app and then the DMs. She noted messages from other women, but he was single after all. Seeing the women in his DMs didn’t make her jealous, but her focus zeroed in on the thread with Kiera. Danica leaned back in the chair and looked through the messages. A year ago, they’d started talking to plan a surprise visit from Kiera, but then the messages had stopped until yesterday, right before the spa trip.

“I’m worried about Danica. She’s making bad, reckless choices and not being herself.”

Kiera made it sound like Danica had started taking hard drugs and charging strangers for sex work.

Eddie’s replies grew increasingly worried as Kiera brought up specific references about Danica falling into old habits with her college girlfriend. A lump lodged in Danica’s throat as she read a message from that morning, “I don’t want Danica to lose you. If you want to work things out, you should come.”

Rage, a violent red, filled Danica's vision; her jaw clenched tight, and her hands shook, the tremor spreading through her arms. What was Kiera thinking? The betrayal felt like a physical blow, a sharp stab of pain that left her reeling, never expecting such behavior from her best friend.

Eddie paced the room, his face contorted with worry as his lips moved, but Danica didn’t hear a word as she read the messages. Her anger wasn’t directed at him — not this time, at least. Eddie hadn’t been a bad boyfriend; he just wasn’t right for her. Her time with Pete had made her realize that no matter what the future held, she wanted a partner who challenged her, who saw her when she was guarded and worked with her tobring down those walls. Someone who she wanted to come home to, not out of obligation but out of excitement. Someone like… Pete.

As Eddie paced, she felt nothing but pity for him, as he ran his hand through his short, receding hair.

She sighed, standing. “Eddie, I’m sorry, but you need to leave.”

He stopped, gaping at her like a fish out of water. “What? But what about us, Danica?”

“There’s no us,” Danica said, shaking her head. His shoulders slumped, like he was defeated. She patted his shoulder. “I’m sorry Kiera told you to come.”

“What was happening that Kiera thought was so reckless she messaged me?” Eddie asked, his tone exasperated.

She chewed her lower lip, considering exactly how much to say. “It’s a long story,” Danica answered.

“You can tell me,” Eddie said, his eyes pleading.

Danica sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She was going to kill Kiera for this. “The only thing you need to know is that nothing has changed between us. It’s over. You broke up with me, remember?”

Eddie looked so defeated that her pity turned to outright worry. When had he perfected that sad puppy look, complete with big, pleading eyes and a slight tremble to his lower lip? Had he ever used that before on her? “But what if that was a mistake? I can’t stop thinking about you.”

Danica let out a heavy sigh. “Our breakup wasn’t a mistake. You being here is, though. So, I need you to leave.” Eddie began to protest, but Danica gave him a sharp look.

“There’s only one flight out per day, and it’s already gone,” he said finally, so defeated his shoulders slumped.

“Okay, well, I’ll book you a hotel and then you can fly back tomorrow,” Danica offered.

She’d once thought Eddie was tall and self-assured, but he looked like a sad, lost boy right now.

She walked out of her room and found Pete and Izzy in the living room, standing in front of Kiera, who was sitting on the couch. Kiera looked flustered and upset. Izzy was red-faced. Danica searched Pete’s face, and her heart ached at the confusion and hurt she saw there. Kiera stood and hurried from the room in a huff.

“Everything okay?” Pete asked, eyeing Danica.

“Yeah, um, Eddie’s leaving.” Danica said, pulling out her phone to book him an Uber and a hotel. She didn’t care how much it cost, just that it was available. Was he fully capable of doing all of this himself? Of course he was, but she wanted it done immediately and correctly. She’d learned long ago that those two things only happened when she did them herself. She booked him a car and then turned toward Pete and Izzy. “I’m going to go talk to Kiera. Please, be nice.”

Pete shifted from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable, but Izzy inclined her head politely. “I’ll keep an eye out for his ride,” Izzy said, and her support surprised Danica.

She turned, walking back down the hall to Kiera’s room. She’d been far less nervous talking to Eddie than she was now, knowing she had to address this situation with Kiera. So many emotions were swirling inside of her. The betrayal, the rage, the frustration, and the deep hurt that crushed her most of all — they all fought for space inside her brain, and she didn’t know how to quiet them in order to think properly.

Her hand closed around the doorknob to Kiera’s room, and without even pausing to knock, she shoved the door open. Kiera had her suitcase on the bed and was hurrying around the room, throwing her things inside.

“What the fuck, Kiera?” Danica said, and she wasn’t proud of her tone or her words.

Kiera didn’t say a word, just shuffled around the room with her shoulders slumped, walking into the bathroom and throwing her makeup into a toiletry bag.

Danica followed her, leaning on the doorframe. “So, you’re leaving?”

“Why would I stay?” Kiera mumbled. “Izzy and Pete hate me. You hate me. Eddie hates me.”