“Where did you hear all this?” Maysie asked, looking pretty pleased with the juicy gossip.

I smiled coyly. “I have my sources. I like to keep tabs and make sure karma does its job.”

“I shouldn’t care one way or another about the bitch but damn, that’s good to hear,” Maysie chuckled.

I inclined my head in Jaz’s direction. “But seriously, it doesn’t bother you to hear your ex is marrying someone else? Not in the slightest? I mean, I would be a little weirded out to hear a guy I used to bang was getting hitched.” I said, waggling my eyebrows.

Maysie snorted. “More power to ’em. I’m glad to hear they’re together. Eli’s a good guy. And Jaz…well she’s…”

“Enthusiastic?” I chirped.

We both started laughing again.

“I swear, I feel like I’m the last singleton from our graduating class,” I complained, thanking Jaz when she brought back our drinks.

“Oh no you’re not, Gracie. I know for a fact that Jasper Evans is still single,” Jaz chimed in.

“Who the hell is Jasper Evans?” I asked, trying to place the name with a face.

“The guy that used to sunbathe on the quad in his speedo?” Maysie asked, her lips twitching in amusement.

“Yeah, that’s him,” Jaz exclaimed.

I covered my face with my hands and groaned. “Great, so me and Speedo Guy are both single. Maybe I should give him a call,” I remarked sarcastically.

Jaz looked thoughtful. “I’m pretty sure he’s gay,” she pointed out.

I lifted my hands into the air. “Well there you go, I couldn’t even get Speedo Guy.”

Jaz patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, Gracie. You’re a total hottie. You’ll get snatched up in no time. You’re pretty enough that not everyone will care about the fact that you used to be a total train wreck.”

Maysie and I looked at each other and I could tell my dear friend was trying not to laugh.

“Thanks, Jaz. You really made me feel better,” I deadpanned.

She continued patting my shoulder. “I’m glad. Because I mean it. Crazy is easily overlooked when you have a nice face.”

“Yeah, G, she’s right,” Maysie mused, biting her bottom lip.

“Okay ladies, I’ve got to get back to it. Your food should be out soon,” Jaz said with a final condescending shoulder pat.

“Wow. Do you think she hears herself when she speaks?” I asked after Jaz left.

“I doubt it. Let’s hope Eli has a good pair of earplugs. Maybe that could be my wedding gift to him,” Maysie snickered.

I shook my head. “It’s sad when Jaz-Motormouth-Digby can land someone and I’ve been sans a date in over six months.”

Maysie sobered instantly. “I didn’t think you were really looking for anything.”

I shrugged. “I’m not. But an option would be nice to have.”

Maysie raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Where is all this coming from? Does this have to do with you coming with us next weekend to the Rejects show? Because if it’s strange with all of us being with someone—”

I held up my hand, silencing her. “It’s not about anything, Mays. I’m just having a moment of feelsorryformyselfitis. It’ll pass. Listening to Vivian’s masturbatory moaning earlier has given me a case of the grumps is all.”

“There’s someone out there for you, G. Someone perfect,” Maysie said softly.

I laughed. I made myself. It was either that or cry.

Because I was pretty sure I had already found him.

Enough!

I had to stop thinking like that.

“I don’t need a man, Mays. I’m content with my own company. Plus I have you, Viv, and Riley to stop me from turning into a crazy cat lady.”

“I promise that if I see you adopting any cats, I’ll stage an intervention,” Maysie swore.

We ate our meal.

We laughed.

We talked.

It felt really, really good.

I had friends. I had a decent job.

I had a life.

I was sober. I was getting better.

That’s all that mattered.

Just as we were paying the bill, my phone dinged and I pulled it out, forgetting by that point, about my momentary weakness only a few hours before.

When I saw his name, I almost dropped my phone.

“Who is it?” Maysie asked, seeing my face.

I schooled my features into total neutrality. I didn’t care. I didn’t care.

“Just my mom. She’s being her normal, suffocating self,” I lied.

I had just lied.

Why?

“Ugh, sorry, babe. Ignore her until tomorrow.”

I swallowed thickly and nodded. “Yeah, it’s probably for the best. I don’t want to open a can of worms tonight.”

Maysie looped her arm through mine as we left Barton’s and headed out to the parking lot.

“Should we brave the apartment or perhaps should we give them a few more hours?” Maysie asked, digging her keys out of her purse.

I still had a death grip on my phone, unwilling to put it away.

“Uh. I think they might need a while,” I said distractedly.

I don’t care.

I don’t care.

“Should we go see a movie then?” Maysie’s voice seemed to be coming through a fog.

I nodded absently. “Yeah. I’ll meet you at the Cineplex.”