Chapter 5
I wandered for hours, until a sudden downpour soaked me to the bone.
Ducking into a convenience store, I fumbled in my purse for a cigarette. []
The pack was soaked through. I started laughing, and then I started crying.[]
A bell jingled over the door. A familiar voice cut through the sound of the rain.
“I told you Josh was trash. You should have dated Zachary, the hot English major from college. Now look at you.“]]
It was Millie. []
She handed me a stack of napkins. []
I just sat there, dripping on the floor.
She sighed and started drying my hair with a towel from her gym bag.
We didn’t say another word.
But that familiar silence wrapped around us like a worn–in hoodie, comfortable in ways logic couldn’t touch.
Truth was. Millie and I hadn’t seen each other in years.
Back in college? We were thick as thieves.
Shared every secret. If I’d hatched some roof–jumping scheme, she’d have grabbed the ladder without blinking.
Only when it came to Josh, she’d put her foot down hard.]
Even pulled the “trust fund kid” card: “My family’s loaded. I know trash when I see it.”
When Josh caught wind of her disdain, he started drip–poisoning our friendship:
“Maybe see less of her…
Cracks spread until Millie dropped out mid–degree for study abroad. Radio silence.
Losing her wrecked me for months.]
Now? Staring at her in the neon lit doorway, it hit me:[]
She’d called every shot. Word for word, dainn it.
“Did you come here just to gloat?” I mumbled.]
She didn’t say anything, just kept drying my hair. [
The warmth from the towel started to seep into my bones.]
“Nah.” she finally said. “Who else is going to comfort a crybaby like you?”
That’s when I finally broke. I sobbed for the first time since everything blew up, and the last time for Josh.[]
Millie took me back to her tiny apartment. []
“I ran away from my dad’s company,” she said. “I’m laying low for a while.”
I nodded, without suspicion.
I missed the sly grin she tried to hide.
