“Is that all? I mean, are we done here? Because you and I both know it doesn't matter what happened between Nas and I. You're only here because you think I’m in rebound mode. Maybe you’ll have a chance if I’m mad enough at Nas. Well, that's not how this is going to go down, Vance. I’m heartbroken, but I’m not desperate, so please don't. You have the files you need, and you know that because I sent them an hour ago. You were sitting at your desk when I pressed send, so please stop playing. Thanks for your faux concern. Bye.”

I whirl back around and face my computer, immediately clicking onto an image and fine tuning it as if Vance isn’t even there. The world is silent for a moment as he stands there staring at the back of my head, but after a few minutes, I turn around to find I’m all alone. Thank goodness.

A few minutes later, I’m interrupted again, but this time it’s Juliana. “Damn, you just keep castrating Vance at every opportunity, don't you?”

Juliana turns around and sits on my desk, smiling in a way I recognize but can’t relate to. It wasn't that we stopped being friends while I was with Nas, but more like we faded a little. After everything went down, I better understood what she was trying to tell me about being careful. I was the one on the inside, so I couldn't see everything she had a clear view of on the outside. Our perspectives were different, and if I had listened to her, I could've avoided the pain I’m feeling right now.

“That’s what he gets for coming over here and acting like he gives a damn about me,” I say, but it sounds just as exhausted as I feel. “I’m over men right now.”

“And you have every right to be,” Juliana agrees, placing a supportive hand on my shoulder. “They’ve put you through entirely too much. I’m sorry we ever bought you tickets to that dumb ass book signing.”

We giggle together—a sound I’ve missed these past weeks. The great thing about Juliana and the rest of my friends is that they don't hold grudges against anyone else in our group. If you offend one of us, the rest will hate you forever, but we forgive each other and remain supportive through everything.

“Nah, I’m glad you bought the tickets,” I reply. “I think being with Nas made me stronger in a lot of ways. I’d be lying if I said I didn't miss—”

“Uh-uh,” Juliana interrupts with a raised finger. “Don't do that. Let’s just get the hell outta here and go to happy hour. No bullshit drama between two men trying to show who has the most testosterone, just the four of us, margaritas, and lots of laughs. You feel me?”