I closed my eyes. Do they?
“Look, I really want you to come to the engagement party,” Matt said, his tone softening. “It would mean a lot to me.”
I should have said no. But I didn’t.
I told myself I was over it. That I was an adult. That people change.
I repeated those words like a mantra as I walked into my brother’s engagement party, trying to ignore the unease creeping up my spine. The restaurant was upscale, filled with warm lighting, clinking glasses, and the hum of polite conversation. My brother spotted me first, grinning as he crossed the room.
“You made it!” He pulled me into a hug, his excitement genuine.
“Of course,” I said, though my stomach churned.
Then I saw her.
Nancy stood by the bar, a champagne glass poised delicately in one hand, looking as polished and perfect as ever. She turned, and the moment her gaze met mine, a slow smile stretched across her face.
“Wow,” she sighed, tilting her head slightly. “You actually showed up.”
