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The Artifices of You and Me
We were bound to fall apart.
“Move on already. The dude was playing mind games. How many signs did you need to know he was bad news?”
I looked down at my untouched glass of wine. My stomach roiled in protest, but I had gotten the drink just to appease Tamara.
“I know,” I said. “But he had me right where he wanted me. He was so good at charming me that I didn’t even think he was seeing anyone else on the side.”
“Yeah, well, you’re done with him,” Tamara said, “and we should fucking toast to that fact. Raise your glass, Mindy.”
I smiled and clinked glasses with Tamara just as she wanted me to do. When she looked away, I spat the sip of wine back into my glass.
Tam and I chatted for a little while before she got a text that her babysitter needed to leave early. Sighing, Tamara drew me into a tight hug. “Kids call, you know?”
“Yeah,” I said, my head dizzy.
We waved goodbye outside the bar, but I didn’t feel like going back home to my empty apartment. Maybe I’d sit inside the bar and watch one of the games on the big screen while sipping some club soda to settle my stomach.
When I turned my head, though, I caught sight of a guy smoking outside the bar. He was dressed in a black…
