evening,” Keira told Bryn, sounding smug.
“You are?” Bryn asked, arching an eyebrow in obvious disbelief.
“Yes,” Keira replied bluntly. “I’m going to a party. I was going to ask you to come along.”
“I’m glad to hear it. But I can’t. Felix and I are having an early night.”
Keira laughed loudly. “Who are you?”
Bryn laughed. With a little shrug she said, “People change.”
When Keira gave little more than a grunt in response, Bryn sat down beside her and rubbed her back. It was very unusual for Bryn to be so caring.
“I know you’re hurting,” she said in a soothing, maternal voice. “But dwelling on the pain does not help you heal. You need to get up and face the day. A shower would be good for you.”
“Fine,” Keira grumbled. “I can take the hint.”
She got up from the couch, her muscles aching as she did. The crick in her neck was becoming a permanent feature now.
“I’ll be gone by the time you’re done,” Bryn said.
“Okay, have a nice time,” Keira replied. “Send my hellos to Felix.”
Bryn blushed immediately.
Keira went into the bathroom, shaking her head at the complete transformation of Bryn. It was amazing how much the love of a man had changed her sister, she thought, as she peeled off her grubby pajamas and turned on the water. She stepped inside the cubicle, closing it behind her.
As the water ran over her hair and skin, Keira marveled at the role reversal she and Bryn were going through. As much as Bryn had changed for the better, Keira felt that she herself had changed for the worst. The end of her relationship with Cristiano had hit her like a freight train. It was even affecting her work. Elliot was eager to send her abroad again for another assignment, but they’d had three meetings about it now and each time Keira had found an excuse not to commit to a location. When he pushed, she’d remind him of how he’d promised her more creative freedom after the last assignment, and that would shut him up temporarily. But it couldn’t last forever, she knew that. Just like how living in Bryn’s apartment and sleeping on her couch couldn’t. Keira would have to pull herself together sooner or later.
She washed the lather from her hair, realizing as she did so that Bryn had been right. A shower was just what she needed to rejuvenate her mind. Perhaps going to a party this evening would be good for her, even if she didn’t feel like it. Sometimes what you want and what you need are different things, Keira reminded herself. Those words had become her personal catch phrase whenever she found herself beating herself up over what happened with Cristiano. Just because she’d wanted him, didn’t mean he was right for her. Still, sometimes it was easier to believe her own words than those of others.
She stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself up in fresh towels, and went back to the living room to find some clean clothes for the day. All her stuff was still in boxes and suitcases, but she’d become so accustomed to this way of life now she knew where to find most things. The top she was after would be in the shoe box under the coffee table. She crouched down to reach it. As she did, her gaze fell to her cell phone. She fought the familiar compulsion to check and see whether Cristiano had been in touch, instead grabbing the box and rummaging through it for the top she wanted. As she pulled it out, she remembered the last time she’d worn it: Paris, during one of their romantic strolls through the rain-soaked city. Her heart ached immediately, and she dropped the top, grasping instead for her phone, her willpower suddenly gone.
She had no notifications but checked every app individually just in case he’d decided to get in touch through some slightly more obtuse means than text or email; a “like” on one of her photos, for example, or posting a link to a relevant news story on her wall. But with a sad sigh, Keira realized there was nothing. Cristiano had made no attempt to reach out to her, even subtly, since she’d ended things in Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The uncomfortable sensation in Keira’s chest made her realize how much she needed to see her friends tonight. A party might not be the best environment for her right now, but being with Maxine and Shelby would be. For the first time in a long time, she found herself looking forward to human company.
Keira hurried up the steps of Shelby and David’s house. It was freezing, and she was dressed in a barely there black dress. She shivered on the step as she pressed the bell over and over, impatient for the door to be opened.
At last it swung open, letting light, music, and chatter pour out at Keira. She rubbed her arms and looked up to see Rob, David’s brother, at the door.
“Hey,” he said, looking her up and down. Then an amused frown appeared between his eyebrows. “Keira Swanson? Is that really you?”
“Yup,” Keira replied. “Can I come in? I’m freezing!”
“Of course!” Rob replied, moving out of the way. Keira hurried past him, out of the darkness and into the brightly lit corridor. He closed the door behind her. “I didn’t recognize you. You’ve changed.”
“I’m not twenty-one anymore, if that’s what you mean,” Keira replied, shirking off her jacket.
Rob took it from her, hanging it on a spare peg. “Was that the last time I saw you?”
Keira nodded. “Yup. Graduation from college.” The heat from the apartment began to warm her and she stopped rubbing her arms quite so vigorously. “So, how are you?” she asked Rob, attempting to make polite small talk.
“I’m great,” he replied, beaming. “Yeah. All good.” He scratched his head, looking lost for words. “Um, why don’t you come in?”
“Sure,” Keira replied.
He gestured for her to go further inside the apartment. Keira did, following the noises toward the kitchen. David and Shelby had a nice house, considering no one else Keira’s age had been able to afford to buy their own home yet. Hell, Keira couldn’t even get together the money for a deposit on an apartment to rent!
She found everyone in the kitchen, Shelby perching beside the large kitchen island chatting with some people Keira didn’t know. Work colleagues, she presumed. They looked pretty put together, with neat hair, trendy outfits, and confident smiles. Keira felt suddenly very uncomfortable in the presence of these apparently calm, collected other friends of Shelby’s.
“Keira!” Shelby exclaimed, noticing her then. “You came!” She placed her glass heavily onto the counter and wobbled toward her friend, clearly already a little tipsy. “Oh my God, I never thought I’d see you again,” she wailed, throwing her arms around Keira’s neck and squeezing.
Keira patted the arm that choked her. “Don’t be silly,” she squeaked. “I’ve just been taking a bit of off time.”
Shelby moved out of the vise-like embrace and looked her up and down. “Wow, you look gorgeous!” She plucked the fabric of Keira’s dress in her fingertips, making it spring back against Keira’s hips. Then she turned her head to address the room. “Look how gorgeous my friend Keira is!” she cried. “AND she’s SINGLE!”
Keira blushed immediately. “Please, Shelby,” she muttered out the corner of her mouth. She felt less than attractive, no thanks to the extra pounds she’d gained recently.
“What?”
