Page 156 of My Heart Still Beats

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“Coming!” I yell.

I pick up a squirming Rita and look through my peephole.

And I gasp.

…

Several Months Earlier

“No… Stay… Please…”

“I’m out of here. I have an early morning meeting.”

I hold the vodka bottle. Where did it come from? I’m not sure. I’m not naked. Just my bottom half. Just…

He’s a blur. It’s Garrett, I think. He’s leaving. The blur is leaving, and I’m on the floor holding a bottle.

Didn’t mean to do it. Wasn’t going to. Don’t even remember some of it. The room goes black for a moment.

I try to stand when the light returns. Dizziness sweeps through me. And I feel… I feel…

Phone?

Where’s my phone?

Skye should have been here with me. She let me down. My bestie let me down. She’s too wrapped up in her billionaire boyfriend.

Bladen Brack.

Baden Back.

No.

Braden Black.

Phone. I crawl toward the couch where I left it, pick it up.Skye. Skye. Skye.

I call Skye.

“Hey, Tess.”

“Skye?” My voice sounds squeaky.

“Yeah? Are you okay?”

“Not even slightly.” I choke back a sob and then—

A-choo! A sneeze rips from my mouth. My allergies have been killing me lately. I’m on all kinds of herbal crap for them. Echinacea sometimes helps, but not today.

“What’s the matter?” Skye asks. “Why are you crying?”

“Damn these allergies,” I say. “I need you. Please.”

“Okay, okay. Calm down. What do you need?”

“It’s Garrett. I… I slept with him.”

“Okay.”

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