The Jilted Lover's Fierce Comeback

red, casting a nostalgic glow over the lot. But the nostalgia was

the scene that greeted me w

tand, looking small and forlorn. The moment she saw

ng towards us. Not towards me,

rushed to

" Chloe asked, but her voice w

ing of balloons tied to the projector booth. "I felt so bad about

inal plan we had discussed in my past life. This

have! Your hands must be freezing. Here, take my jacket." S

wed with concern. "We brought Italian, but we c

" Zoe said, her voic

sound. Then they began a ridiculous, pe

said, already moving tow

ed, grabbing Chloe' s arm. "You st

pointless argument over who would g

etely forgot I was there. I was standing just a few feet away, the

played her par

ugh that didn' t reach her eyes. "You' re embarra

signed only to make them

not," they s

place meant to celebrate me, and the entire focus of their

hed triumphantly to the concession stand.

assed. The

her eyes wide as she sudde

ping up her neck. "I' m so sorry, we just... we

if she had been caught in a lie. An

at her, then at Zoe, who was basking i

e hot dog, presenting i

go. Extra

said, taking a delicate b

n' t a celebration for me.

my own car, which I had in

ut, her voice laced with panic. The play was

I said, not bother

is about to star

ine. They ran up to my window, their

emanded, her hands flat against the

d, my voice cold and even.

on, and the window slid up, shutting out their

, standing there, stunned and furious. The flickering lights o

ervatory on Miller' s Peak. My grandfather built it. It was where

that Chloe and Brook

t, and a portable telescope pointed at the s

e-in was just the public part. This

n' t the kind of watch I liked. I preferred old, mechanical watches with complex move

ars by my side. And they st