The Start of Time

Chapter 58

~Six months later~

It's weird to be able to say everything in my life has finally settled back to normal. After about three more awkward encounters where he flipped the switch on me, I finally decided that even though we have the same friends, I don't have to see him or have dinner with him or even acknowledge his existence other than in passing.

I easily planned dinners and events around girls nights and third wheel dinners with Maverick and Gen or Hailey and Chris, who has healed up quite nicely, by the way.

Every once in a while I hear about how they never see him from working overtime or the new car he bought but refuses to show anyone or some other random information in passing, but it's not enough for me to wish him well or even care.

I'm not a dumbass. I learn from the lessons the world gives me, and it was time I stopped remembering things that hurt me, taking myself out of harm's way, pushing down any hard feelings I still held against him until the numbness his name left was finally gone.

It's okay to let things go and try to forget. It's okay not to be okay, but it's also okay to be okay.

That was a lot of 'okay's, but I think you get the point.

We live our separate lives, and I don't have to see his face anymore. Not that it would matter if I did because he doesn't matter to me anymore. All that matters is this right here.

Celebrating the big moments with those I love—like Stella's twenty-sixth birthday.

"Stella, I can't believe you're about to turn twenty-six. That's closer to thirty than twenty. You're getting so old. You're the oldest one here." Gen teases, laughing at the offensive face Stella shoots her.

"You're like a full grown, actual woman now."

"I've always been an actual woman, thank you." Stella retaliates. "More of a woman than you two put together."

"Are you sure Chance can still handle all that woman?" I ask.

"Well, if he can't, then he has to go."

"Oh, come on. You don't mean that."

"You're right," she laughs. "I don't. I'd miss him too much. Do you ever—"

She pauses, realizing her next words might not be ones I want to hear, immediately hinting she was going to mention Declan or past relationships.

But she's getting quicker at her subject changing coverups.

"Do you ever think he's going to ask me to marry him? I think he might be the one."

Oh, honey. That's so cute. She thinks he's 'the one.'

Unfortunately, that doesn't exist, but I refuse to crush her sweet little dreams. Marriage is only the deep, dark commitment that comes after dating. It's like replacing all the magic and dates with secrets and arguments.

But I would bet real money on the fact that they'll be engaged within the next year or so.

If someone actually does get a happily ever after, I really hope it's her. Either that or Maverick and Gen becoming endgame. Preferably both.

Gen shakes her head. "I think you've finally found someone who loves harder than you. He'll definitely propose eventually. Just be patient. Men are slow sometimes."

"Tell me about it." I roll my eyes.

"Tell you about what?" Gen laughs. "Get back in the dating game, and find you a man, then you can have an opinion."

It sounds harsh, but the goofy grin on her face tells all. Only Genevieve could say something like that without offending me.

"Based on my track record, I don't think I'll be shooting any shots anytime soon. Men are just too much for me."