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Reece would listen to me whine about Skye He’d probably even cancel his date, come over, and keep me company while I moped He would, however, definitely say "I told you so" When he’d found out I’d been covering for her, he hadn’t been happy He’d outright accused her of using ht on that score

The wound, however, was too raw to be prodded and poked So … no Reece In all likelihood, Lizzy would giveReece had Neither had been a fan of the save Skye plan Decision o to the party and have fun before my world turned to shit

Excellent I could do this

CHAPTER TWO

I couldn’t do this

David and Ev lived in a luxury condo in the Pearl District The place was sprawling, taking up half the top floor of a beautiful old brown brick building Itfro to this sort of splendor Itsat on the edge of don, close to the university, but David and Ev lived smack-dab in the middle of the very cool and expensive Pearl District

Happily, Ev seeated Mr Ev, the rock star, gavewhile I didMy forehead would do

"Help yourself to anything in the kitchen," said Ev "There are plenty of drinks and pizza should be here soon"

"Thanks"

"You live next to Lauren and Nate?" asked David, speaking for the first time Good lord, his dark hair and sculpted face were breathtaking People shouldn’t be so greedy; was it not enough that he was insanely talented?

"Yes," I said "I used to be Ev’s neighbor and I’ular at Ruby’s Café"

"Everywithout fail," said Ev with a wink "Double shot skinny latte with a hit of caraht up"

David nodded and seemed to relax He slipped an arrinned up at hiood on her I hoped they lasted

I’d loved, really loved, four people in my lifetime They weren’t all romantic love, of course But I’d trusted ured there was a twenty-five percent chance for success

When David and Ev started sucking face, I took it as rabbed a beer from the kitchen (state of the art and beyond fancy) and faced the big living room with renewed deter and me were about to be best buds A couple dozen people were scattered around the place A huge flat screen blared out the game and Nate sat dead center in front of it, enraptured There were a few faces aed to people I’d never dare approach I took a sip of beer to wetthe odd one out at a party is a unique sort of torture Given today’s events, I lacked the courage to start a conversation Withwho to trust, I’d probably ask the only axe estured toinquickly out onto the balcony to escape the noise and chatter Reece’s name flashed on the screen as I shut the balcony doors

"Hey," I said, s

"Date canceled on me"

"That’s a shame"

"What are you up to?"

Wind whipped upme shiver Typical weather for Portland at this tiet cold, wet, dark, and miserable I huddled down deeper intoto have to entertain yourself Sorry"

"A party? What party?" he asked, the interest in his voiceup a notch

"One I wasn’t exactly invited to, so I can’t extend the offer to you"

"Daht for a change"

"Good idea" I wandered over to the railing Cars rushed by on the street below The Pearl District was a eneral coolness Plenty of people were out and about braving the weather All around hts broke up the darkness and the wind howled It was lovely in a moody, existential-crisis sort of way No matter the weather, I loved Portland It was so different fro I appreciated immensely Here the houses were built for snow and ice instead of sunshine The culture eirder, more lenient in ways Or arding my hometown I’d escaped That was all that o be social, Reece"

"You sound off What’s up?"

Groan "Let’s talk tomorroork"

"Let’s talk now"

"Later, Reece I need to put on o oing on?"

I screwed upWe’d been working together for alure out one"

"Good About time She pay you back?"

I let

"Fuuuuck Anne Seriously"

"I know"

"What did I tell you?" he snarled "Didn’t I say–"

"Reece, don’t go there Please At the ti to do She was a friend and she needed help I couldn’t just–"

"Yeah, you could She was fking using you!"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly "Yes, Skye was fking using "