Hazed (Palm South University)

“Ouch.”

“So I went out.”

“Oh?”

“And that’s when I realized I’m broken. Because I went to one of my favorite bars, Sky, and I looked good, I felt good, but I…” She sighs again. “I wasn’t attracted to a single person in there. Guy, girl, it didn’t matter — everyone sucks in comparison to Brandon.” She pauses. “I don’t think I can have one-night stands anymore.”

“Oh, Lei…”

“Don’t,” she says, and I can almost see her holding her hand up, that beautiful face of hers scrunched up in discontent. “Don’t pity me. Just fix me.”

I chuckle on a sigh. “Well, first of all — you’re not broken. You’re healing, my love. And those are two very different things.”

“Healing is awful.”

“It is,” I agreed, remembering the pain easily. I was lucky to be happy and on the other side of everything that Kip and I went through, but I’d never forget what it felt like to be in the middle of it all. “Unfortunately, about the only thing that is going to help you is time. And staying busy, which I already know you are. Don’t worry about trying to date someone else, or even just have sex with them. Right now, the best thing you can do is focus on yourself and just let each new day slowly erase that pain until you’re truly ready to let someone else in.”

Ashlei is quiet for a long while before she whispers. “And if that day never comes?”

“It will,” I promise her.

“I don’t want to hurt anymore,” she says, and I can hear the emotion strangling her as she holds it all in. “I don’t want to think about him.”

I sigh, tugging on the door to the auditorium. There are students lining the halls, gathered in groups hunched over laptops or rehearsing. “You may always think about him, Lei, but soon, it won’t be all the time. It will be every once in a while, and it’ll be memories that bring a smile to your face, because you’ll be thankful for the time you shared together — even if it didn’t last. But for now, just trust me when I say that every new day you get up and go to work and go to the gym and make it through, you’re one step closer to not having him occupy every waking minute of your thoughts.”

“I can’t wait for that day.”

“It’ll come,” I promise again. “Until then, I think a girls’ night is in order. Why don’t I come over after you finish up at work tomorrow?”

“Please. I need tequila and hair pets.”

“Lucky for you, those are two of my specialties.” I smile as I round the corner at the end of the hallway that will lead me to where Kip and his crew are meeting today. “I’ll text you with a time.”

“Thanks for talking me off the ledge.”

“Love you, Lei.”

When the line cuts out, I use the camera on my phone to make sure my hair and makeup aren’t a complete disaster after the long Monday I’ve had. Then, I push through the doors and smile when I find Kip leaning against a table with a half-eaten box of pizza on it. His glasses have slipped down to the edge of his nose as he studies what I imagine is the script in his hands, his brows are furrowed together, and his blond hair looks windblown even though I know he’s likely been inside most of the day.

My little director.

Everyone in the room looks familiar — producers, writers, directors, the like. But as I make my way toward Kip, I frown.

Because Natalia makes it to him first.

I didn’t even realize she was in the room, and when I do, I find myself frowning even more. From what Kip explained to me last night, today would be mostly working on finalizing the shots list and getting applications in for filming permits. They aren’t supposed to start shooting until next week.

So why is Natalia here?

And why are her glittery fingernails touching my man’s arm?

She smiles, making some comment as she leans against the table beside him. I don’t like that she touches him at all, but the fact that she lets her hand linger over his forearm for at least thirty seconds makes me want to gouge her eyes out. And the little smile, the batting of her lashes as she laughs at something he said?

It’s enough to make me see red.

Before I take another step, I force myself to take three deep breaths. I shake my head at myself, at the jealousy coursing so strongly through my veins. It’s hard not to get this way after everything Kip and I have put each other through, but I’m older now — more mature.

More secure in our relationship and the fact that I know Kip only has eyes for me.