Lydia opened the gloss, applying a layer to her already shiny lips. “Yeah, he was pretty over the top about it all. But that’s Sloan, he says that to every girl he dates. He went out with my friend Minda, and trust me, it was the same thing. ‘You’re so beautiful, you’re so fun, I’ve never felt this way about anyone.’ Blah blah. He chases after you, talking shit, and the second you believe him, it’s over.”

Eden saw her face fall in the mirror. Willow was like that. Coming on strong, giving out compliments like candy. She wanted to leave, walk away, but found she couldn’t move.

Lydia looked at her, scanning her body in a way that would have been insulting if Eden’s mother hadn’t done the same thing her whole life.

“Cute tits,” Lydia said as though to someone else. “Pretty face. You’re a DJ, right?”

Unsure of what else to do, Eden nodded.

Lydia pushed the cap back onto her gloss. “Yeah, Sloan loves famous girls. Not as famous as him though. He wants to pull you up. Make connections for you.”

Eden thought of the night they had tacos. How Willow had pushed for their fake relationship. Nausea swam up inside her like a fish. She could say something, try to argue, but all she could think of were clichés. ‘You don’t know him like I do,’ ‘you didn’t have what we have,’ ‘you’re just jealous.’

Was that even true? Did she know Willow better than the woman who’d managed to pinpoint the concern that had niggled at her their entire relationship? She swallowed. “He dates women just to lift them up?”

Lydia shrugged. “He likes shiny things. Right now, that’s you, but no one stays shiny forever.”

Eden stared into the mirror—she’d been about to tell Willow about the bridesmaid thing. She’d already told him about David. If he dumped her… if they broke up, he’d have all that knowledge forever. How could she have been so stupid?

“He’s a good fuck though, right?” Lydia’s smile was wide. Mean. “Does he still do that thing where he goes really slow and drags it out until you come?”

Eden’s mouth fell open.

“Yeah, he did that to me too.” Lydia hunted through her purse, pulling out a wand of mascara. She held it to her left lashes. “You should have fun with him while you can. Make the most of it.”

Eden took a step back. “I’m leaving.”

“Why? Don’t you want to know what Willow told me when we broke up? The thing he’s definitely gonna say to you?”

Eden’s heart stopped. She stood, waiting for the bomb to drop.

“Everything okay in here?”

It was Beth. Beautiful, sober Beth. She looked from her to Lydia and her brown eyes narrowed. “The fuck are you saying to her?”