bChapter 137 /b

    But maybe forever just means “until you’re too broken to love.”

    Just when I’m about to give in

    –

    go and sink beneath the water forever

    —

    when I start wondering if maybe it would be easier to let

    my phone starts ringing.

    It buzzes loudly on the counter, pulling me back to the surface.

    Julie.

    A video call.

    I don’t want to answer. I don’t want to talk. I don’t want anyone to see me like this.

    But some tiny part of me knows that if I ignore it… I might note back.

    So I drag myself out of the tub, still dripping, still empty, and answer the call.

    I force a smile, though it feels like it’s cracking my face open.

    “Well, hello, beautiful.”

    Julie’s face lights up, her sweetughter filling the screen like sunshine I can’t feel.

    “You couldn’t at least dress up first?! You’re totally shing me–AHH!”

    Iugh, kind of. A broken, breathy sound that doesn’t reach my eyes.

    It’s not real. Nothing feels real right now.

    “Sorry,” I mumble, grabbing the nearest towel and pretending like I’m not falling apart

    inside.

    She keeps talking, teasing, trying to make meugh – but I’m somewhere else.

    I’m sitting across from Eric again. The way he looked at me when he handed me the divorce papers. So calm. So quiet. Like all the love had been drained out of him. ollibeb. /b/li/ol

    And here I am, pretending I’m okay, because Julie needs me to be. Because I need me to

    But I’m not okay.

    b1/3 /b

    I don’t even remember what okay feels like anymore.

    Still, I force myself to dry off and get dressed while Julie keeps talking, her voice bright and bubbly like always. She doesn’t notice how quiet I’ve gone b– /bor maybe she does and she’s just pretending for my sake. Either way, I’m grateful.

    She tilts her head and changes the topic. “So… how’s Liam doing? Still with that pretty girlfriend of his? What’s her name again? Emily?”

    “Emilia,” I correct, tugging on a shirt. “Yeah. They’re still together. They’re… disgusting actually.”

    Julie grins, showing off her signature dimples. The same ones Liam throws at me when I don’t put in the extra effort to hide my fucked headspace. “You’re just allergic to love right now, but that’s okay. I’ll love you enough for both of us.”

    I fake augh. It feels like ss in my throat, but I do it anyway.

    She’s so beautiful. So full of life. She looks so much like Liam it messes with my head sometimes. Same smile, sameugh, same brightness I used to have too – before everything

    cracked.

    “You doing okay?” she asks softly, her smile faltering just a bit. “I miss you. Can’t you get

    off early ande visit? You don’t even care about the couple.”

    “You’re right, I don’t,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “But Céline does-”

    Julie immediately gags.

    That fake bitch.”

    “Julie!” I can’t help the frown tugging at my lips.

    “Okay, okay! Sorry. I take it back,” she says, grinning like she means the exact opposite.

    bI /bscowl yfully and throw on some shorts. “Anyway, I overheard Céline and Margot’s conversation, so I’m pretty sure our next stop’s pretty close to yours. So I might drop by.”

    Julie squeals. “Yes! Make sure Liames too- oh! Bring Emilia! God, I just know she’s

    even prettier in real life than on the phone.”

    bI /bsnort. “She’s not gonna/date you, Jules.”

    “You never know,” she says with a wink. “If Li closes his eyes for even one second, I’ll have

    Emilia walking down the aisle with meb./bb” /b

    Fake Dating My Ex’s Favourite Hockey yer

    bChapter /bb138 /b