Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Liz shot her a sideways glance. “You think everyone’s as perverted as you? Turns out he’s actually an old high school classmate.”
“Well, that’s even better. You already know each other. Sounds like a good foundation for something more.”
Liz shook her head. “Forget it. I’m not in the mood for dating right now. And besides, who says he’d even be interested in me?”
Just then, the desserts arrived.
Liz picked up her spoon and lowered her head to dig in.
Jane was about to say something when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, and her expression shifted slightly.
Liz noticed right away. “What’s wrong?”
Jane hesitated, pressing her lips together for a moment before looking at her seriously. “Liz, I’ve been debating whether I should tell you this now.”
Liz set down her spoon and said calmly, “Is it about Zac?”
Figuring she would find out sooner or later, Jane decided not to sugarcoat it. “Yeah. The second day you were gone, Xena started posting all over social media, flaunting her relationship with Zac. She’s been sharing their ‘couple moments’ like crazy. It’s already picked up a ton of followers. People are commenting every day, waiting for updates.
“She was the one who came between you two. He cheated on you. But now? People online are calling them a ‘fairy tale romance. ‘It’s honestly disgusting.”
The sense of security Liz used to long for was now something Zac gave away so easily to someone else. It felt cruel, almost laughable.
But the truth was, she didn’t need that kind of reassurance anymore.
She handed Jane a glass of iced water. “Here. Cool off a little.”
Jane shot her a glare and pushed the glass aside. “You were with Zac for eight years. The entire time he was building his company, he never once acknowledged you publicly. And now he’s letting his side chick post their lovey-dovey life all over social media? How are you not furious?”
Liz set her glass down and answered calmly, her voice steady. “There’s nothing to be mad about. We broke up. I don’t want to make things ugly. I just want to move on and live my own life.”
Jane stared at her. “He treated you like garbage, and you’re just letting him walk away from it? If it were me, I’d make sure that jerk and his little homewrecker paid for what they did.”
Liz shook her head gently.
She had thought she would hate him too.
But on the night they broke up, while she was packing her things, she came across a whole box of expired medicine. Each bottle had a label in Zac’s handwriting, noting what situation to take it for and how many pills to take at a time.
In that moment, something shifted.
There was a time when he really had loved her completely and without reservation.
And for that, she chose not to hate him anymore.
“As long as they stay out of my way, I’m fine pretending we’re strangers.”
1/2
Jane scoffed. “You think someone like Xena is going to leave you alone?”
To her, that girl was the type who lived for drama.
“If they cross the line again, I won’t stay quiet,” Liz said.
Jane rolled her eyes. “Just promise me you won’t go soft when it happens.”
“I won’t,” Liz replied. Her tone was calm, but firm.
Jane studied her for a moment. Liz looked collected and grounded, without a trace of sadness or regret. That alone was enough to ease Jane’s worry.
When she had brought up Zac and Xena flaunting their relationship online, she was half-expecting Liz to break down. After all, eight years wasn’t something you just walked away from.
But somehow, Liz had. And Jane realized she was even stronger than she had imagined.
After dinner, Jane glanced at the time. “It’s still early. No rush to go home, right? My brother just opened a new bar a few blocks from here. Want to check it out?”
Liz looked like she was about to say no, but Jane raised an eyebrow at her.
“Oh, come on. When you were with Zac, fine-you stayed in all the time. But you’re single now. Don’t tell me you’re still planning to act like you’re saving yourself for him.”
2/2
