Izzy joins in, squinting across the room. “Seriously, where’d he come from? He’s not from around Beverly Mills and looks out of place among the Greer folks.” She pauses, her eyes narrowing. “What I do know is he’s been eyeing you for the past twenty seconds. Maybe you should formally introduce yourself and give him a proper Beverly Mills welcome.”

I scoff, dismissing the idea. “He’s not staring at me.”

But our eyes lock when I sneak another glance, and my heart skips a beat. “Holy crap, is he staring at me?

Serena nods slowly. “Yep. Talk about a step up from your ex.”

I take a sip of champagne, trying to play it cool. “Maybe I should go demand an apology for his earlier comment.”

Kiera pats my shoulder, grinning. “Oh, sweetheart, if flirting were a class, you’d still be in kindergarten.”

Serena snickers. “We keep forgetting you’ve only ever been with one man—a halfling at that. You’re about as clueless as a virgin.”

“Hey!” I protest, placing my hands firmly on my hips. “Just because Cory was my one and only doesn’t mean I haven’t learned a few tricks. I have plenty of toys.” I proudly retort, a playful spark igniting within me.

The girls burst into laughter.

Izzy wipes a tear from the corner of her eye. “Oh, Kerry, what’re we gonna do with you? Mix and mingle. Secure a job. No, better yet, secure that fine man over there.”

My friends’ playful teasing ushers in a lighter, more bearable mood to the evening. Yet, beneath the surface, the sting from the unpleasant encounter with that infuriatingly handsome man still burns. Despite his undeniable allure, I remind myself of the resolve that led me to divorce my ex. I will never allow anyone to disrespect or hurt me ever again.

So, I dive into the crowd, schmoozing with Greer’s elite, dreading every moment of pitching myself like an infomercial on a desperate loop. The compliments on my looks flow as freely as the champagne. Even worse are the questions about my credentials. Ultimately, each conversation ends with the same non-committal responses.

Rich Prick #1: I’ll give you a call if I’m interested. But I’ll call you sooner if you’re ‘interested,’ if you know what I mean.

Rick Prick #2: Could you provide a reference from your last employer? You know, your former principal turned Superintendent, Cory Martin?

Rich Prick #3: Aren’t you the same Kerry Kind that got arrested?

My smile grows tighter with each exchange, and the urge to throw my champagne in someone’s face grows stronger by the second. Cory’s shadow constantly looms over me. No matter where I go or what I do, my name will always be associated with my shitty ex-husband.