Alicia

The girl in the mirror was a stranger. Though she had all the familiar features, her dark eyes were rimmed with red, and she was trembling like a fir sapling in the middle of a blizzard. Alicia gripped the sides of the bathroom sink and stared at her reflection, wondering how she had even gotten here. She blinked hard to chase back the stinging in her eyes.

Why was she so bothered seeing Nancy and Zeke together like this?

It shouldn't affect her like this. Zeke had said he was conflicted about the future of his relationship, but that didn't mean he had made a decision.

Her mind flashed back to that moment in the cellar as he leaned in close...

She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, trying to clear her mind.

"What am I doing?" she muttered to herself.

That moment had been a mistake. A slip-up. He had made her no promises, and she knew better to expect them.

Besides, she was off to Europe soon enough. Even if something had happened with Zeke, it couldn't go anywhere. It wasn't like he could follow her on her travels...

She needed to pull herself together.

Snatching a piece of paper towel from the dispenser, Alicia pressed it under her teary eyes to blot her smudging mascara. She wiped her nose and took a deep breath. When she checked the mirror again, the reflection looked a little more like herself. She gave it a smile. It looked forced, but she was sure it was enough to get it through the night. Only someone who knew her well would notice something was off, like Celeste or Olly.

Olly. He would be insufferable when he learned he had been right about this. The idea of Olly's over-the-top bragging—she could picture him doing a stupid dance as he taunted her with a chorus of "I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!" like he did when they were growing up—at least brought something more real to her smile.

She felt a swell of gratitude for her friends—even if some of them were complete dorks. That gave her the strength to push back from the sink. She straightened her back, squared her shoulders, and smiled at her reflection one last time.

"Wish me luck," she said and headed for the door.

Alicia pushed the door open and stepped into the sparkling hall. Even in the furthest corners of the bar, Olly had gone all out with decorating. He had looped lights across the ceiling, strung up iridescent icicles, and added a length of snowy white garland along the top of the wall like crown molding. He'd even hung a glittery sprig of mistletoe back here, though Alicia didn't know who'd want to kiss in the hallway by the bathrooms—

Alicia staggered to a stop.

Nancy was standing at the end of the hall. She was leaning against the edge of the archway, blocking the way. She had her back to Alicia, too busy talking on her phone to notice her.

Alicia froze in place. She'd have to shove past Nancy to get out of the hall, and she really didn't want to do that. Maybe she should head back inside the bathroom and wait her out—

"—I don't want to talk about this anymore, Evan."

The hairs on the back of Alicia's neck stood up.

Evan?

As in Zeke's co-founder?

The one who made a move on Nancy?

Alicia took a step closer. She knew it was rude to eavesdrop, but she couldn't stop herself. Zeke's doubts about Nancy's story itched at the back of her head. If she could get proof one way or another, it would help him make his decision... whatever it might be.

At the very least, he deserved the truth.

"You need to stop calling, Evan," Nancy said, exasperated. "I blocked your number for a reason."

Blocked his number? That certainly sounded like someone who wanted nothing to do with the guy who made an unwelcome pass at her.

She guessed Nancy had been telling the truth. Alicia had no reason to hold anything against her... other than envy. And with this information, Alicia could help clear up Zeke's remaining doubts.

She tried to be happy for him, but it made her heart ache.

She tried to push it down.

Maybe that was how it was supposed to be.

When she got back to the table, she'd figure out some way to tell him—

Either the volume on Nancy's phone was cranked, or Evan was shouting, but Alicia could hear him from the other side of the phone.

"I did this all for you!" he barked, furious. "I bought him out of the company, I left my girlfriend, I got that new penthouse—"

"I never asked you to do any of that," Nancy snapped back. "Look, we had our fun, but it's over now. I've made my choice, and it's not you—it's Zeke."

An icy chill crept up Alicia's neck.

We had our fun, but it's over now.

Nancy was lying!

She had been cheating on Zeke this whole time!

Not only that, but she was cheating with his co-founder, playing the two of them against each other.

She was diabolical.

"But he left you!" Evan cried.

"So? I'm going to get him back," Nancy said, almost bored now. "So, let me go, Evan. I don't need you interfering."

Zeke sounded desperate now, loud as ever. "What if I call him and tell him everything?"

Nancy giggled wickedly. "And you think he'll believe you? You think he'll even pick up after what I told him? Forget it, Evan. Move on. If you want to beg, go grovel to your girlfriend—maybe she'll take you back."

And with that, she hung up. She shook out her silky hair and pushed off the wall, heading back towards the table.

As she watched her go, it felt like flames were eating through Alicia's insides.

Zeke deserved so much better.

Alicia swallowed her anger and went after her.

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