I bookmark the man’s email for now, along with some other messages I received about upcoming holiday events around the city. Providing a list of cute date ideas seems like the right approach, but I want to double-check with one of my Gen X coworkers first.

After work, Kiara, Val, and I bundle up in our coats and walk to the Financial District. It’s only a fifteen-minute walk, but it seems much longer than that, especially since we have to walk past the condo I used to live in with James.

My friends know where I lived, but I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. Not today. As an attempt to distract us all—and because I finally feel ready to talk about it—I launch into the story of what I saw in the printer room. Kiara’s jaw drops, and Val fumes and cusses enough for all three of us, even throwing a few Spanish curse words here and there.

My friends’ indignant reactions are thankfully enough of a distraction that I only feel a slight twinge when the condo comes into view.

“Thank God you’re not with him anymore,” Kiara says finally. “This breakup was a blessing in disguise.”

“Truly,” Val agrees. “Thank you, next!”

They laugh, and I try my best to smile along with them. I must not be successful at hiding my pain, though, because Val pats me on the back as we join the line of young professionals that’s already begun to form in front of our first destination, a bar called Rousseau’s.

Rousseau’s has been recommended by our “Places to Go for Seasonal Drinks” roundup in our lifestyle section for several years now. I’m not a big seasonal drinks person, so Shane usually covers them, but I’m still impressed by how there’s already a line out the door at not even five thirty p.m. Their drinks must be really good.

When it’s our turn to go in, Val holds the door open for Kiara and me.

As far as appearances go, Rousseau’s is a standard, no-frills place, resembling more of a pub with its brick wall and dark wood bar top. When we were still together, James usually preferred to go to more bougie establishments with high ceilings and fancy backlit drink displays, so I’m relieved this isn’t the kind of bar we’d see him in.

“Apparently their seasonal drinks are the best in the city, so I figured this would be a good place to start,” I say as we follow the hostess to one of the high tables in the middle of the room.

“Yay!” Kiara exclaims. She claps her hands, and Val pumps her fists with excitement.