Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
It’s as if Kyler didn’t even care. Like the last ten years meant nothing. The asshole didn’t even fight for me.
That hurt the most.
And then the real kicker came when he showed up to a recent movie event with another woman on his arm. And he kissed her. Kissed her on the lips as if he enjoyed it. He stopped kissing me on the lips out in public years ago.
I haven’t left this house since I moved in, not wanting the tabloids to get a photograph of me.
I can imagine the headline now…
* * *
Oriana Now Homeless
* * *
Technically, I’m not homeless, but I just may look it, unfortunately.
Today is my birthday, and Simone has made plans. I tried to get out of it—you know, because of a divorce and everything—but she just brushed it off.
Harvey is back today for my birthday before he flies off again later this week. He’s always in town for my birthday because it’s a tradition and one I am thankful for. I’m not sure how I got this far without him.
“Hey.” Harvey walks in the door, stopping and staring at me as he approaches. “What the hell is going on with you?”
“What?”
I’m standing in my pajamas with a coffee in hand.
“You look like shit. Truly. Do you plan to go out looking like that?”
My mouth falls open at his words. “I look great,” I say back.
“You look like a homeless person.”
“I do not.” I scoff, spilling the coffee. He only laughs as he goes into the kitchen and makes his own coffee.
“You should call a hairdresser and possibly a magician,” he suggests.
“Ha ha,” I deadpan, heading to the shower. The doorbell rings, but I don’t turn back to answer it. “That will be Simone. Let her in, please.”
“Simone is annoying,” Harvey grumbles.
“I can hear you,” Simone yells from the other side of the door.
I laugh as I jump in the shower, wash my hair, scrub my body, and shave every inch of me that I haven’t touched in months. When I’m done, I climb out and wrap a towel around myself before I step out of the bathroom to find silence. I look around the corner and see Harvey standing between Simone’s legs as she sits on the counter with her arms around his neck.
They’re kissing.
Oh.
Oh.
Okay.
When did that happen?
And why did that happen?
“Is this a thing now?” I casually ask, and they pull apart quickly.
Simone falls from the counter, straightens her skirt, and smiles at me.
“You’re looking human again,” my brother says, ignoring my question and avoiding eye contact.
“Do you do this often?” I ask, taking in their guilty expressions.
“No,” they answer in unison.
“Well, you know I’m always happy to cancel and stay in. You two can go out,” I offer.
“That’s not happening. It’s your birthday, and the makeup artist will be here soon,” Simone says.
“I don’t need a makeup artist,” I tell them, then turn to go to my room.
“Oh, you so do,” Harvey yells.
“Stop kissing my best friend,” I scream out, shutting my door and falling onto my bed.
The door opens, and I don’t bother to see who it is when the bed dips next to me and Simone touches my shoulder. “You need to start living again. He has clearly moved on. You need to do the same.”
“Ten years, Simone. I gave that man ten years. How?” I groan into my pillow.
“You fell for all his charms hook, line, and sinker.” She slaps my ass.
“That’s not happening again. The next man will fall hook, line, and sinker for me.”
Simone stands and crosses the room, then rifles through my closet before she lands on a black dress and throws it at me.
“That’s your comeback dress. The makeup artist is almost here, so get dressed while I make your new favorite…margaritas.”
“I will get out of bed for margaritas,” I tell her, smiling.
“Damn right you will.” She bounces out the door as I get up. I go to pick some underwear, but this dress will show panty lines, so I look for my Spanx, but somehow, I’ve lost them in the move. I ended up having to rent a storage unit to store all my big things to make room in Harvey’s place and only kept all the things I would need in the short term.
So, I slip the dress on, without panties or Spanx, and slide my feet into a pair of heels. When I step out of my room, Simone is opening the front door for the makeup artist.
I guess we’re going out.
Harvey invited a few friends, and Simone has been eyeing him all night. I’ve had maybe three too many margaritas but stopped when my fourth was put in front of me.
It’s weird celebrating a birthday without Kyler. Not that he did much for it anyway, but after ten years, the empty place by my side is noticeable.