Second Chances

thirty-three

a l e x

"It's official," Sophie threw her hands up in the air, almost knocking over the cup of coffee in front of her. "I ended it. I shouldn't have even given that ass a chance."

We were back at our favorite cafe, just like we were when all the madness that was my relationship with Luke started. It was a huge coincidence that the table we were at was the same table from that day.

If you'd gone up to me then and said that I'd be back together with Luke, I would've laughed and bet you a cup of coffee that we wouldn't, but things have a way of proving us wrong when we least expected it.

Even though my relationship was the best it could be—Luke finally talked to his sister about us—and I was so happy, I couldn't say the same for my best friend.

I talked to her about what she was going to do about her situation with Collin, and she finally decided she wasn't going to push it any further. She didn't want to be in a relationship where she couldn't trust her partner.

"Well, tell me what happened," I prompted. "You weren't exactly in a chatty mood when you called me, crying, last night."

"He really was cheating on me," she rolled her eyes. "I knew my gut feeling was right."

My eyes widened, and I almost spat the coffee in my mouth at my best friend. "You have got to be kidding me. How'd you find out?"

"I went to his place to break up with him, but when I got out of the car, I saw some girl. I didn't think much of it, but she was going the same way I was. When she stopped at Collin's door, it was obvious. But if that wasn't enough, he opened the door, kissed her, for a while might I add, then he saw me," she narrated.

I felt my blood boil. "That lying little piece of sh—"

"Yes, I said that to him too," Sophie cut me off. "And like I wasn't annoyed enough, turns out, I was the side chick because little miss blondie said they've been dating for a year now."

"And to think he flirted with me too," I shook my head.

She nodded. "You tell me, girl."

"He works for me, you know," I pointed out. "I can fire him if you want. I've been tolerating some things I don't really have to tolerate if I wasn't so nice."

"You don't have to do that for me, Alex," my best friend shook her head. "He's gonna need somewhere to get money from. Blondie's purse looked like it needed an upgrade."

I shrugged. "Whatever you say. But hold up, she didn't break up with him?"

"Guess not," she sipped from her iced coffee. "Saw her with him this morning on the way here."

"I guess some people really do forget things for love," I rolled my eyes. "Sucks to be them, am I right?"

"You said it," she pointed at me. "One less toxic person in my life, and that's great for me."

We finished up our conversation and our coffees too, then hurried to the office because we lost track of time. Sophie was going to be late. It's a good thing Luke texted me a "good morning" so late because if not, I wouldn't have realized the time.

"Just on time, Miss Hastings," the person at the front desk spoke right as we ran in, Sophie handing him her ID so he could note her arrival. Thank God we knew how to run in heels. "Good morning, Miss Evans."

"I thought people knew to call me Alex. Miss Evans is my mom," I smiled at him. "You're not new, are you?"

"Apologies, Miss Alex," he smiled at me. Oh, I knew a fake smile when I saw one. "I started last week. On the twenty second."