“Move on? And pretend I didn’t just split from the love of my life? Pretend it doesn’t still hurt me every minute of every day?”

“Yes. You’ll have to pretend at first. But, you know, have a fling, at least. Do something that makes you feel good about yourself. That makes you feel desired. It works wonders for the self-esteem.”

“I’m not like you, Caitlin. No offense.”

“Definitely none taken, my dear friend.”

“I used to be so many things to her and now someone else is and that hurts. It makes me feel so replaceable. So insignificant. And sometimes, I even think she was right to blame it all on me.”

“At the moment, I’m not a big Rebecca fan because she treated you so disrespectfully, but I really don’t think she blamed it all on you.”

“You know what I mean.”

Caitlin shakes her head. “You know my view on this.”

“Yeah, well, where were you when I needed your help with all of this? Shagging your way across the United States, no doubt.” I glance at Caitlin from under my lashes. My bitterness might be getting the best of me.

“How long has it been?”

“What?”

“When was the last time you got laid, sister?” Caitlin puts on a funny accent.

I scoff. Good question, actually. I follow up with a shrug.

“I guarantee you, you will feel so much better about yourself—and you’ll stop attacking me, your good friend—after you’ve had another woman’s hands all over you.”

“Oh my god.” It’s my time to roll my eyes. “Like sex is the solution to everything. I’m so sick of hearing that.”

“Suit yourself.” Caitlin puts her glass down. “Maybe you’re not ready. Although I’m a big believer in not waiting until you think you might be.”

“I wouldn’t even know where to start. I can’t just go to a bar and pick someone up.”

“Why not?” Caitlin challenges me. From the look on her face, I can tell she’s getting some glee out of this. Or she already knows what I’m going to answer.

“You know why.”

“Don’t tell me because you’re Zoya Das. If anything, it will help.”

I shake my head. “You know I’m not really one for one-night stands.”

“It’s never too late to change your mind about these things.”

“Caitlin, I respect your choices, but I have my own views on sex and monogamy. We’ve had this conversation so many times before.”

“Basically, what you’re saying is that you want to wait until you fall in love again. From where I’m sitting, it looks like that might take a good long while. You’re a long way from being over Rebecca.”

“No matter what she says… for me, it just came so out of the blue, you know?”

“Yeah.”