The doors mercifully shut without incident, and I press the button for the first floor. In the sudden quiet, I feel numb all over as I lean against the back wall of the elevator. The world spins, and when I look down at my hands, it takes me a moment to register that yes, those are my hands that have accidentally crumpled up the papers I needed for work.

I sigh. I’ll have to reprint those later.

Part of me wants to report James and Daphne to HR, but I don’t want to be that person. Plus, the last thing I want to do is deal with the investigations that’ll inevitably ensue from it.

How did I see them? Well, that’s a funny story…

I’d be worried about Shane exposing us all, but James, being James, probably has that department covered. Knowing him, he’s probably bribing the poor—or lucky?—guy with front-row tickets to a 49ers game right now. Tickets that James will easily get, thanks to Mom and Dad.

A part of me can’t believe I ever dated this man. And for so long, too. But then I remember all the adventures we had around the city. The countless nights we spent playing video games and binge-watching TV. All the unmet whispered promises of forever love and—okay, fine—good sex.

I’m trembling head to toe by the time the elevator doors reopen. Instead of going back up to the fifth floor, I exit the elevator and walk to the café. Since it’s around ten a.m., it’s mostly empty except for a handful of people eating a pastry or grabbing coffee to take back up.

I sit at one of the high tables. And then, pressing my palms into my eyes, I let out a shuddering breath.

Seven years of thinking I’ve met my perfect person. Seven years of thinking I had it all figured it out. All culminating in an extremely awkward encounter in the printer room, where he’s eagerly making out with another woman a couple of weeks after he upended my life.

I open up my phone and scroll up to a text that Kiara sent a few days ago with links to different dating apps. She’s been encouraging me to go out and meet new people, telling me I should have some fun since I’m a “free woman” now. I previously said no, because I didn’t think I was ready yet.

And I’m still definitely not ready to date or anything like that now. But after seeing James with Daphne today, I want to get drunk and meet a bunch of hot people. Ones that don’t make weird caveman noises.