Page 36 of How to Break My Heart 1

The plot has started getting angsty, and I am super invested in this billionaire losing his mind over this woman dating another man, until my phone rings and Maddy’s name flashes on the screen for FaceTime.

She lets out an exasperated sigh. “Can I please tell you about the day I had?”

I nod, gesturing for her to go on.

“So, I started with work stuff… the whole reason I even drove into the city today,” she says, rolling her eyes. “And, miracle of miracles, it didn’t take as long as I thought. So, I figured, hey, might as well do some shoe shopping for my dress.”

I chuckle. “That sounds pretty harmless so far.”

“Harmless? Ha!” she scoffs. “I nearly broke my ankle in theseridiculous high heels I thought I could pull off. Who was I kidding?”

“Sounds rough,” I say, stifling a laugh. “How high were they?”

“High enough to make me look like I was using stilts. Oh, and then, as if things weren’t already on a downhill slide, I get a call from Myles’s mother,” she continues, her voice dropping as she says it. “I swear, these calls always leave me feeling… I don’t know, on edge.”

“Yikes. Did she go off on one of her rants?”

“Don’t even get me started,” she groans. “And just when I think I can finally get home, there’s this… rat.”

I blink, holding back a laugh. “A rat?”

“Yes, a rat!” she exclaims. “It darted right in front of me, and I swear, I nearly had a heart attack! I don’t know who screamed louder, me or the damn mutant rat… Eva, it was so big. I thought it was a cat at one point. I swear to God, it was not a normal rat.”

I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer. The rat story continues on, much to my amusement. After she’s done with her much-needed vent, I blurt out, “I have a date tonight.”

“I’ve been talking about a mutant rat for ten minutes, and you’re only telling me this now?”

“I won’t lie to you. The rat story was funny.”

“How was it funny?” Maddy raises her voice dramatically. “I nearly died!”

My eyes roll from the drama this woman conjures up in her head. “You didn’t nearly die. Do you want to hear about my date or not?”

“Yes, carry on.”

“So, it’s with Dr. Wilde,” I say slowly, then correct myself, “I mean, Marco.”

“Hold on one second. Are you dating your doctor?”

“Technically, hewasmy doctor, but not anymore.”

“Holy hotness. This is so forbidden!” Maddy squeals, and a horn honks in the background. “Give me all the deets.”

“There’s not much to tell yet,” I admit. “We met not long ago. I ran into him at the bar yesterday when you were spiraling over Myles’s family. Then, he called me and asked me out to dinner. Nothing fancy, but still.”

Maddy whistles. “The universe is working overtime.”

“It’s a small town.”

“Cinnamon Springs is small but notthatsmall,” she says, then continues in a rush, “What if he is your prince charming and you marry him? We could double-date with our husbands, and oh my God, what if we have kids at the same time? They could be besties too!”

“Okay, now you’re taking it a step too far. I’m not looking for a husband, just someone I enjoy spending time with.”

“And someone great in bed,” Maddy snickers.

I laugh softly. “That too.”

“Okay, but seriously, Eva. What if he isthe one?”