I have to remind myself nobody knows who I am here. I can start fresh. That’s an empowering feeling, and my confidence climbs as I get ready and put on a little makeup. Piper puts on music and even dances around, which lifts my spirits even more. It’s times like this I understand how much I missed her, even when I didn’t realize it.

By the time we’re walking across campus, I feel like I can actually handle this party. “I do hope it’s as quiet and low-key as it was described,” I fret to Piper because I can’t help it. I don’t need to end up in a drunken frat party with a bunch of guys who will only remind me of the two I want to forget but can’t seem to.

When we enter a large, comfortable apartment, my hopes climb. I recognize a handful of people from class strewn around, hanging out on sofas and around the kitchen table. There are other clusters here and there, voices overlapping and almost drowning out the soft, upbeat music playing through the TV. Pizza boxes are on the kitchen counter and a tray of sandwiches beside them, plus what looked like endless bottles of alcohol and mixers. “There’s beer in the fridge, too,” one of the guys tells us. “I’m Trevor, by the way.”

“Leni,” I tell him, shaking his hand. “And this is Piper.”

“Leni, Piper, make yourselves at home. What brings you here?”

“Oh, I’m in lit class with you,” I tell him with a laugh. “But I usually sit in the back of the room, so you probably never noticed me.”

He snaps his fingers, chuckling. “Of course. Sorry, I’ve had a few, so my beer goggles have me a little fuzzy. I guess Maya invited you.”

“Yeah, is she around here somewhere?”

“She’s out on the balcony. Everybody is supposed to just make themselves at home, so I figured I’d help out with that a little bit.” He pulls a beer from the fridge before looking at Piper and me, his brows lifted in a silent question.

“Sure, I’ll have one,” she murmurs.

“I’m good, but thanks.”

While his back is turned to us, she elbows me, wiggling her eyebrows up and down. Sure, he’s cute, but there are a lot of cute guys. I think I can be forgiven for not wanting to jump right in and flirt with somebody so soon after everything I’ve been through.