Claire looked up at Naomi, her confused gaze indicating she was a step behind Audrey’s realization. Or perhaps, deeper in denial. “Yes. How’d you know?”

Naomi didn’t look away from Claire. “I know designers. I also know that I have the exact same watch at home.”

Claire sucked in a startled breath. “Brayden…?”

Naomi nodded.

“Me, too,” Audrey said, almost inaudibly.

Claire stared down at the watch on her left wrist, and Audrey could feel her caving—understanding what Audrey and Naomi already understood. They needed each other.

Naomi extended her hand. “Hands in, girls, we’re making a pact, high school–style. May neither of you ever fall victim to a cheating bastard again. Not on my watch.”

Audrey didn’t even hesitate in placing her palm on top of Naomi’s hand. “And to helping each other find the right man. That’s on my watch.”

And she meant it. She might not be worthy of a happily ever after, but she was determined that these women would find it. It was the least she could do.

Claire hesitated for a moment longer before slowly resting her hand atop Audrey’s. “Oh, what the hell. I’m in. To no more assholes.”

Audrey felt something click in that moment, feeling a connection that went beyond friendship, a sense that this was a pivotal point of her life. Not Brayden’s death, but what came after.

As they slowly pulled their hands back, Audrey let out a long sigh before glancing across the park in the general direction of the church they’d all ditched. “I guess we should make an appearance, huh?”

Naomi let out a derisive snort and, standing, flicked her sunglasses back onto her nose with a finger. “Screw it. Let’s go shopping.”

“I’m in,” Claire said, also standing. “Let’s stop by Sugarfina on the way and get some ridiculously priced but fabulous gummy candies. Brayden hated gummy candies.”

“Did he?” Naomi said. “I didn’t know that, but hell, let’s buy the whole shop.”

Audrey stood as well, but slower. She’d known. She’d known Brayden hadn’t liked gummy candies. Just like she’d known they’d both loved chocolate. And she knew his smile had been higher on the right than the left and that he didn’t really like black pepper but always asked servers to add it to his food anyway, as though saying no would be an affront to his manhood. She knew his favorite cocktail was a Tito’s martini with a blue cheese olive and that he liked to sleep on the right side of the bed.