Ex Marks the Boss

andles hits me. The place is its usual brand of organized chaos-clothes draped over chairs,

's h

wild brown curls, and British accent that makes even the rudest insults sound elegant, she's effortlessly cool. She'

she smirks, looking me up and down l

s with a sigh. "Oh

skin glowing under the soft yellow light, gold rings glinting as she adjusts her reading glas

"Let me grab my drink first. I need t

kes a slow sip like she's savoring t

low flies across the room, hit

rt talking in the next

d in a pink hoodie that reads Messy Bun, Getting Things Done. She's balancing a bowl of

austed sigh. "Alright, ladies. Bu

ea, S

them ev

sa grabs a pillow and dramati

icon," Tes

nd," Za

" Maddie

y hair.

her head. "Men are

hoving another handful o

int, I should just marry m

ry dating in Lagos. One guy ghosted me for a week and

de into

ing," Madd

And guess what? The fool had the auda

an excuse. British guys don't even bother anymor

es. My last boyfriend was so emotionally unavai

rs. "Couldn't even

wave of

he moment settle. "Honestly? I th

s. "You say

nsist. "No more trash men.

, you'll meet some ridiculously hot guy,

eyes. "D

background. Zara paints her nails a deep shade of blue. Maddie scrolls thro

legs, sinking into the co

r real, though. Don't let that idiot m

at her, s

judge. But at the end of the day? You

y can't handle a woman who knows what she wa

ds. "Scr

er Fanta. "To

The night ends with quiet laughter, soft music, and the comforting knowledg

? That's mor

r

-

ning: The

eams at exac

, the dorm eru

her eyeliner like she has all the time in the world. She's in her slee

w, wrapped in a burrito of blankets, snoring s

the mirror. "Rise and

t should be illegal to be th

" she says, adj

espect the hustle, but waking up at the crack o

door, and faint singing drifts ou

and knock. "Zara! Some of us

dear," she c

minutes to wake up earlier, bu

finitely pretendi

d've known better, Ava. Sh

should have done-I told Zara and Maddie to

anket cocoon, grinning sheep

gl

llow like a shie

or we all share and adds another stroke of eyelin

. We fight over sink space, stolen hair p

ll burn you with this curling ir

on't have another mirro

ACTLY YO

miles sh

ith these girls i

r her shoulder, she casually drops, "O

erks up.

nt complex near cam

up. "Ooooh. Rich

And guys in exp

a brow at m

es. But the music, the d

single drunk guy breathe

It's settled. W

a sm

tonight is going to