Bee's nerves always went to her stomach and lay there twisting and turning.

The morning had been spent catering to those nerves. Ever since Jared's plane had landed back in Lapis City, he'd been staying at his parents' and when she'd offered to make the drive, he said there was no need. Like there had been no need to call her every few days on his business trip or text her beyond a few sporadic words. For months they barely spoke to each other. Sure, they talked and watched the occasional movie together, brewed coffee before diving to work but...the spark was fading. 

Bee met Jared through a mutual friend. He was handsome. A successful executive and found her cute enough to call her a girlfriend, button nose notwithstanding. Bee was a college dropout, still trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her life. Which was what the educational system expected her to figure out yesterday! What if she got it all wrong and ended up shackled to a desk job she loathed?

Bee's phone buzzed and she yelped. She was so far gone into her thoughts, going over their lives together like clips of a foreign movie. Spacing out was one of her worst traits. Jared would be telling her something important and she'd completely miss it making him feel like he wasn't important.

Bee yanked her phone from the charger and her stomach knotted again when she saw Jared's name across the screen.

"Hey," she breathed.

"Hi, Sabrina." Jared said over the roar of traffic in the background. "I got off early. Meet you at Mondays in an hour?"

Bee glanced at the pile of clothes strewn across the bed. Jared hadn't told her where they would meet. Torn between looking overdressed or underdressed and trying to find an in-between, not an easy feat.

Now? They were meant to meet up at six now they're meeting up in an hour. And at Monday's? The family-oriented restaurant didn't scream 'couple celebrations'.

"Sabrina? Are you still on the line?" Jared asked in a bored tone.

"Ah. Yeah, uh. I'll meet you there."

"Good. Bye." Jared hung up before she could say 'See Ya'.

Bee released a breath she didn't know she was holding and raced across the bedroom, flinging drawers and hopping into the shower.

Expertise born out of online tutorials had her turning her locks into glossy waves. She threw on a high waisted pair of dark jeans and a black crop top. Foundation on, she hovered just as she was about to line her eyes. Jared said she looked like she was trying too hard when she did.

She tossed the eyeliner in her purse and put on red lipstick with a little blush dusted on her pale cheeks.

On her way out she inspected the outcome, her hand flying to her neck where her grandfather's locket should've been.

"Shoot," Bee muttered. Racing back to her bedroom when Bee's phone buzzed again.

A text from Jared; I'm here.

Bee rummaged through the drawers, her jewelry box, it wasn't there.

She sat on the edge of the bed trying to retrace her steps, her palms sweating at the thought she might've dropped it.

"No," she reassured herself. "I had it this morning. I showered..."

The bathroom!

Bee could've done a happy dance at the sight of the necklace at the sink. Once on, the oval shaped locket gleamed against her black top. Bee blew out a sigh of relief. 

Until she realized, there were boot prints all over the bathroom, bedroom and possibly the corridor.

Shit!

***

Done with mopping, she threw a cream cardigan on and rushed out of the apartment. Bee thanked the stars Mondays was a few blocks away. She didn't have the energy to drive and spend an hour hunting for a parking slot.

Lapis City on a Friday afternoon was a mix of busy and lazy. Post pandemic most employers offered hybrid hours. And most employees went for Thursdays and Fridays as their choice of work-from-home. It had become the norm to see peeps in cafes armed with laptops and earphones while sipping coffee.

With each step closer to Mondays, Bee's mind shifted to everything that hadn't felt right. Since her granddad's declining health, she'd been feeling as if she couldn't speak without it backfiring in her face. She missed how when her granddad smiled, the laugh lines deepened as if emphasizing the amount of joy and generosity the man had given over the years.

Bee pushed through the doors of Monday's. The scent of grease and burnt coffee greeted her and her stomach growled. Come to think of it, she'd chugged a bubble tea and lots of water thinking she'd have time to grab a bit before her date.

Her eyes scanned the place and landed on a mop of slicked back brown hair.

She walked over to Jared's booth leaning to peck him on the cheek. "Hey."

Jared gave her a tight smile. "Hi, Brianna."

Bee felt the color drain from her face as she slid on the opposite side of the boot. "What's wrong? You okay?"

"You're late."

"Oh," she laughed, and it came out in a nervous rattle. "I. Uh. Had to sweep."

Jared nodded and a petite waitress came over to their table. She flipped her notebook, pen poised. "What can I get ya?"

"An espresso." Jared said, handing the menu over to her.

Bree's mouth went dry. It wasn't all in her head. He barely called her and when he did it was short, clipped.

"Miss?" The waitress was looking at her.

"I..." Bee tucked an auburn strand of hair behind an ear. "Same."

Jared cleared his throat. "I've been thinking we haven't been on the same page for a while."

Oh, no.

"Did I do something wrong?" Bee asked in a small voice and hated it immediately.

"Here you go," the waitress placed identical cups and saucers on the table. "Do you want dessert with that?"

"We're good," Jared said sipping the coffee.

"Alrighty then. Holler if you need anything."

"Thank you," Bee muttered.

They fell silent for a moment. Bee brought the coffee to her lips and almost gagged at the bitter taste. She needed milk, cream and a pound of sugar to make the drink tolerable.

"I missed you—"

"We should go on a break." Jared said.

Bee's felt a sting behind her eyes. "What? Why? I thought..."

"We haven't been working out. Between work and the amount of attention you need." Jared checked the blue smartwatch he rarely took off.

"Attention?" Bee repeated. It didn't make sense the second time around.

Jared scratched his chin. "You've called me six times in the last two days, Bee."

"I was checking on you!"

"I texted you. I've been between meetings, and you know I do this so you don't."

A toddler wailed in the booth behind them, and Bee had to speak a tad louder. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Jared pursed his lips. "I mean I foot the bills while you do nothing all day."

Bee felt as if she'd he slapped her across the face. "I teach online. At least until something else works out. We talked about this."

"Bee," Jared said in pacifying tone much like the mom trying to shh the distraught toddler. "It's been months."

She didn't try to clap back. If she did, she'd be as needy and clingy as he saw her.

As her mind raced, the waitress came back with what looked like a molten lava cake with a lit candle wedged in the vanilla ice cream.

"On the house," the bubbly waitress grinned at Bee. "Happy birthday."

Jared laughed. "It is her birthday."

Bee felt hot tears trickle down her cheeks and saw the waitress' pity as plain as the apron she wore around her waist.

"Excuse me," Bee whispered. She grabbed her purse and ran to the door.

"Crap. Bee, wait." Jared called at her back.

But she had to leave. She wasn't strong enough to bear a breakup in public.

On her fucking birthday! At least Jared actually forgot. He wasn't humiliating her out of sheer viciousness.

He forgot because I'm not important, Bee squeezed between bodies on the subway.

Moving on autopilot she hugged herself on the platform.

Her phone buzzed, signaling multiple texts.

^Jared: I'm sorry. Can we talk?^

^Grace: Happy birthday, babe! 'Birthday cake emoji'^

^Mom: Happy birthday, Busy Bee! We love you^

Bee took in a shaky breath. Both mom and Grace had wanted her to spend the day together. And what did she do? She blew them off to spend it with Jared, thinking they'd have the best date ever!

^Jared: where are you? ^

He didn't even remember, and he didn't want her anymore.

By a miracle, Bee got off at the right station. Outside, the setting sunbathed the streets in soft hues of pink and gray. She wiped the tears from her eyes and fished the keys to the brick-and-mortar house. The garden gnome had a broken hat and Bee made a mental note to buy a new one. Lately the list of things she had to do were adding up.

You do nothing all day, Jared's voice echoed in her head.

She beelined to the kitchen. Her hands reached for her granddad's stainless steel, semi-hidden behind tins of tea leaves and an assortment of herbs.

Bee unscrewed the cap, and the strong alcohol made her nostrils flare. She ignored it taking one gulp after the other. The liquid tingled as it went down then warmed her insides.

She spilled the contents of her purse on the counter and switched it to plane-mode.

"Ooh," she cooed. From her position at the kitchen counter, a glass bottle caught her eye.

"Please be whiskey." Her grandad loved a good Tennessee.

"Aha!" Bee's hopes rose. She could throw herself a party and buy herself flowers.

No one needed to know she was a loser who got dumped.

She grabbed her phone again to play music when she heard it.

A rustling in the master bedroom followed by a stream of curses in a foreign language. Bee took a final swig of the mystery alcohol in the flask trying to calm her nerves.

Tiptoeing she snuck up. The door was left ajar, and she could see the outline of a tall lean man with tattoos inked around his wrists and forearms. He was dressed in a pair of sweats and a shirt twice his size. His hair was thick as black as a raven's wing, tousled in a way that was effortless.

And sexy, Bee thought and frowned. Get a grip!

She should call the police. Yes.

If her phone battery hadn't just died.

Bee groaned and clapped a hand over mouth.

The man stopped pacing turning to look at her. Eyes a deep amber framed by thick lashes.

He cocked his head to the side and a few strands fell into one eye.

Bee held her breath under the stranger's intense gaze. His strong jaw ticked and as he swallowed the tattoo, half hidden beneath the oversized shirt he wore, moved.

Bee couldn't get her legs to take a step back. This was how girls got killed in horror flicks. She was Drew Barrymore in Scream. The gawked like idiots while drunk. 

"Who are you?" 

They both blurted at the same instant. 

And then chaos.