Chapter 2

Chelsea blinks, then covers her mouth with a laugh.

"Oh, sweetie. Titan's security is insane. Outsiders can't get in without a badge. Tell me before you come and I'll walk you in myself. Give you the grand tour."

I don't bother explaining.

"We'll see."

Something about my flat tone gets to her.

Or maybe it's the fact I didn't gasp and beg for the tour.

Her eyes suddenly get wet.

"Nora... are you still holding a grudge over that flash drive? Really? After three years?"

"We're supposed to be best friends."

Grayson's face darkens.

"Nora. You said losing the flash drive cost you your internship. But be honest. Even with the drive, would you really have made the cut?"

"Are you seriously this petty?"

He glances at Chelsea like she's a wounded puppy.

"Apologize to her. Now."

I can't help it.

I laugh out loud.

"Wow. Three years, and you two are still exactly the same."

She plays victim. He plays knight in shining armor.

He was supposed to be my boyfriend. Somehow he became her personal bodyguard.

Chelsea's voice cracks. "I knew it. It's been three years and you still hate me..."

I raise an eyebrow. Fine. Let's do this.

"Hate you for what?"

"Hate you for 'accidentally' sitting next to Grayson every single dinner?"

"Hate you for grabbing his sleeve every time we crossed the street?"

"Hate you for squeezing between us at the movies and then screaming 'oops, wrong guy!' while falling into his lap?"

I shake my head. "I hated you at first. But by the time I left? I was over it."

My ex-best friend and my ex-boyfriend basically did me a favor. Showed me exactly who they were.

Chelsea's tears vanish in half a second. "See? I knew Nora was the bigger person!"

"So where do you work now? Not still at some little nothing company, right?"

"Girl, don't stay at a small shop. The pay's garbage, no future. It's honestly embarrassing to tell people."

She's getting loud.

I hang up. Slide into the car.

Phone lights up again. Three messages from Chelsea.

"Wait, that car you got into looks expensive?"

"Damn, airport pickups are getting fancy these days huh?"

"Anyway, gotta go, Grayson's been nagging me. Nora, can you please control your boyfriend LOL."

I type back one line.

"We broke up three years ago. He's all yours now."

She sends a "???"

I don't answer.

Someone wants my leftovers? Knock yourself out.

---

Saturday afternoon. Downtown flagship mall. Third floor. French luxury boutique.

I walk in. On my left, a familiar whine.

Chelsea. Snapping at a sales girl about how the shoulders don't fit right.

Then she gasps. "Twenty-three hundred?! What is this, a robbery? Forget it. Grayson, let's go."

She grabs Grayson's arm off the couch. Turns. Locks eyes with me.

Her jaw drops.

"Nora?!"

I give her a small nod.

Her eyes rake over my face, thinner than she remembers, then down to the brand-new Burberry trench I'm wearing.

Her lips move. Her voice comes out dry.

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