Thirty-five and Single

Chapter One

As the flame flickers, I wonder how I ended up on the road to divorce from a man who I thought was my forever… my best friend.

Today, of all days, my lawyer has informed me I’m officially and legally separated from my soon-to-be ex-husband. I’m not sure how to feel about it.

“Liv.” I gaze up into the faces of my sisters, Amelia and Ella. “Aren’t you going to make a wish?”

“It’s not exactly my birthday yet.” I muster a smile, trying for humor.

Ella, my younger sister, glances at her watch. “You have less than an hour until b-day, and I’m hoping we’re all drunk by then.”

Amelia, my older sister, giggles. She’s already there. Then again, she doesn’t get out much. Married with three young kids, she’s a full-time mom. “Come on, Livvy. Make a wish. I bet you wish you could cut Corey’s balls off.”

There have been many times I’d wished for just that.

“Not anymore.” Soberly, I add, “He called me today.”

“For what?” Ella snorts.

She’d gladly do it for me and I inwardly smile. I’m glad for my sisters. They keep me sane, especially today.

“He got the papers that officially separate us. I can legally date anyone I want now,” I admit.

“You could have yesterday with no regrets after what that bastard did to you,” Ella says.

“I’m not even angry at him anymore.”

The truth is such a relief. I close my eyes and blow out the candle on my birthday cupcake they’d so thoughtfully brought.

Holding up my lemon drop shot, I say with the biggest smile I can manage, “Here’s to being thirty-five and single.”

My sisters toast with me, and we down the drinks. My life isn’t quite what I’d planned for myself. But here it is.

Amelia’s glazed eyes flit over to me before she speaks. “You say it like you’re dead. But you’re not. You’re hot. You look more like you’re twenty-five, not thirty-five. You’ll find someone else.”

I’m not even sure I want to date anyone else.

Ella is much younger than Amelia and I. You’d think she’s the fun one. But tonight, she’s acting way more mature than Amelia.

“Let me ask you a question.” Ella holds up both hands. “No, wait. New tradition. Truth or dare?”

“Me first,” Amelia slurs.

“No, the game is only for the birthday girl,” Ella chimes with a sly grin.

“Fine.” Amelia turns to me, swaying some in her seat. “Truth or dare?” she animatedly asks while pushing another one of the shots they’d ordered in my direction.

As drunk as my sister is, I go with the safe option. “Truth.”

“Figures,” Ella says, looking disappointed in me.

Amelia, undeterred, asks, “Do you want to get back with Corey?”

When Ella’s smile ratchets up, Amelia and she high-five each other before Ella blurts, “But remember, the birthday gods won’t answer your wish if you don’t answer truthfully.”

Not that I believe her, but the question is one I’ve asked myself a million times. Corey’s not a bad guy. I think he really loves me, despite his mistake or mistakes. And I’m thirty-five. Do I really want to start over now?

“Truth?” I ask. They both nod like bobbleheads. I drink another shot, and they reciprocate before I answer. “I don’t know.”

Ella rolls her eyes. “If you’re going to go back to him, at least have sex with someone else first.”

“Why?” I foolishly ask.

“Because.” The word comes out of Ella’s mouth like she’s put out for having to even say it. “A little payback is in order.”

“Don’t listen to her.” Amelia has always been a fan of Corey’s. “You don’t have to add to your number.”

“That’s the point,” Ella chides. “Her number is one.”

So had been his. As much as I’ve wondered, I’ve never asked Corey what his number is now.

“Fine,” Amelia says.

“Wait,” Ella cuts her off. “What’s your number, Miss High and Mighty?”

Amelia proudly holds up her hand making the okay gesture.

I must be drunk. “Do you mean okay or zero?” I ask.

“Can’t be zero.” Ella laughs. “She’s got three kids. She means three.”

Amelia nods while laughing at a joke Ella and I don’t get. We trade a glance.

“No more drinks for her.” I wave a hand in her direction.

Amelia reaches out. “Hell no, you won’t stop me. I finally stopped breastfeeding. This is my first drink in over a year.”

“A year?” Ella arches a brow.

“Duh, nine months of hell, and then breastfeeding for more than I can add right now,” Amelia slurs, lifting a hand and staring at it like it’s the fifth wonder of the world.

All the shots I’ve downed start to catch up to me. The noise of the lounge sounds louder than it had moments before. My nose perks up, and the scents all around me come into sharper focus.

“You should screw your neighbor, Joel,” Amelia announces proudly. “Do him, and then go back to Corey. He wants you back, you know.”