“And he deserves to be happy,” she added. “It… well, quite frankly, it infuriates me that you do that. That you weren’t just a rebound like a lot of us thought.”

I couldn’t tell if she wanted to make me upset with that last comment, but the truth was all I could do was smile to myself at all the missing pieces she’d never know.

That no one would ever know.

“Anyway, I just want to apologize if I’ve come off a little… bitchy,” she said after a moment. “I was threatened by you.”

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me. “I can’t imagine why.”

“Neither could I at first,” she said, unflinchingly. “But look who got the guy.”

I pressed my lips together.

Maliyah watched me for far too long, long enough that I considered saying goodbye and pushing past her. But before I could, she took a step toward me, lowering her voice.

“But let me just be clear,” she said, looking down her nose at me. “I want him to be happy. I’ll leave him alone. But the second you slip up, I’ll be here, waiting.” She smiled, the curl of her lips making my stomach drop. “And I promise, if I get him back?” Her eyebrow hiked as she eyed me. “He won’t remember your name, let alone why he ever wanted you.”

My jaw tightened, heart spiking with the kind of fight-or-flight response I imagine my ancestors used to feel when getting chased by a predator.

But I reminded myself that I wasn’t defenseless.

I had a fucking sword of a tongue.

“And I promise you,” I said, stepping up to her just as much. “That you won’t get the chance.”

I smiled sweetly, patting her on the shoulder as I pushed past her.

Every molecule in me wanted to jump and thrust my fist into the air in victory when I swung out of that bathroom, but I kept my cool, walking slowly and calmly all the way back to my office.

No one could knock me off my cloud.

I was practically prancing across campus on the first Monday of November, the bitter chill of the air not enough to wipe the smile from my face as I ducked into the coffee shop and ordered my usual. When I had the steaming latte in hand, I turned for the door.

And ran right into Shawn.

“Whoa,” he said, grabbing my upper arms to steady me with a grin. “Easy there, you’re going to knock someone out with all the sunshine you’re bouncing around with.”