My mind races and my heart aches as the grand opulence of the gala — and Benedict’s stunned expression — fade further and further away.
The thought of going back to our shared cottage — our shared life — feels unbearable. I pull out my phone, my fingers shaking as I dial the only person who’s seen me at my worst and still sticks around: Maya.
She picks up on the first ring.
“Where are you?” she asks. I’ve been looking all over for you! The gala turned out great.”
“Maya, can you meet me outside? Now? I…I need to get out of here, and I can’t go home right now,” I say, my voice breaking.
Moments later, she’s by my side, her arms wrapped around me tight, as we wait for a car to take us to Jax’s, one of the bars we used to frequent in the days before Alex, before Benedict, before everything.
We find a booth near the back, my mind still whirling with images of Benedict and Eliza, his lies, and the devastating realization of who he really is. I stay with our stuff as Maya goes up to the bar to get us drinks.
She reappears with two drinks for each of us, and in that moment, I am so eternally grateful for her, for our friendship.