She says those last few words a little too loudly and I clap my hand over her mouth, silencing her. “Maybe.”

She bats my hand away. “You did! Oooh, you sly dog. You look so happy because you got some!”

“Stella! Keep it down,” I whisper urgently.

She starts to laugh, shaking her head. “Oh wow, this is such a relief! I really thought you were going to say you got back together with the ex.”

I wrinkle my nose just thinking about that. “Ew. No. Not interested.”

“Yeah, because you’ve got someone else to keep you warm,” she teases.

“Is there something wrong with moving on?” I ask, sounding offended. Maybe because I am a little offended. This is what they all wanted from me, right? To move on? Forget Joe once and for all?

I remember all the times I said I was done with him, only to go back. The disappointment I would see in my friends’ gazes when I’d admit I went back. The matching disappointment I would feel when I’d tell them. I hated letting them down. Worse, I knew I was letting myself down. I was settling because I was scared to go anywhere else, and that is the most awful thing.

There was no reason for me to be scared, though I couldn’t see it then.

Look at me now. Surviving.

Thriving.

“Not at all,” Stella says firmly, her gaze locked with mine. “I’m so glad to hear you’ve found someone new. We all need a good rebound in our lives after we’ve gone through such a serious relationship.”

I nod and agree, but deep down, I stumble over that word.

Rebound.

Isaac doesn’t feel like that to me. But how can I admit that to Stella? She’d tell me I’m crazy. She’d probably be right too. I barely know this guy.

Yet he makes me feel like I’m walking on air. Floating on a cloud. And that is such a wonderful feeling. One I’ve never really experienced before.

“He’s really great,” I admit, my voice soft. As is my heart. Just thinking about him makes me feel all mushy inside.

“Someone’s got a crush,” Stella singsongs.

“Shush,” I tell her, though I’m still smiling.

“It’s nice to see. Funny how someone can walk into our lives and make us so happy just by existing,” Stella says thoughtfully.

“I feel that way about all of you,” I say without hesitation. “You guys are what got me through this breakup in the first place.”

Stella yanks me into a bone-crushing hug and I squeeze her back, suddenly fighting the tears that want to spring into my eyes. “We will always be there for you, you know.”

I smile at her in return when we each pull away slightly. “Right back at you.”

She studies me for a moment, our arms still wrapped around each other, two good friends sharing a moment. “You are fucking glowing,” she tells me, right as she seizes me into another giant hug. “He must have given you multiple orgasms.”