Too Late for Forever

Zoe took me out for drinks.

She and Lucas were starting wedding prep soon, and she wanted one last chance to relax before things got busy.

A completely wholesome kind of relaxing.

She got drunk fast, but still insisted on taking me home first.

I laughed, but my chest ached a little too. Even drunk, my best friend was still thinking about me first.

Felix would always choose Lacey over me.

I comforted her. "I'm staying at your place anyway. We'll just go home together."

I had moved out of Felix's place a few days earlier to sort through our relationship. Lucas happened to be away on a business trip, so Zoe asked me to stay with her for the last few days of her single life.

When we got home, I carried her onto the couch. She mumbled vaguely into the cushion.

"Sara... if something's broken, throw it away. Don't force yourself to hold onto it."

Zoe and I had known each other for over ten years. Even when I said nothing, she could still tell how conflicted I was.

I smiled and rubbed her hair gently.

Just then, a message came in from Felix.

[Done being mad yet? When are you coming back?]

[Come back and I'll take you to that Sichuan place, okay?]

[You're an adult. Every time you're unhappy, you disappear. Do you really think that's mature?]

For the first time, I did not reply to him.

…

Lucas came back from his business trip. I was planning to leave since it was not convenient for me to keep staying there.

However, Zoe insisted I stay and sent Lucas back to his parents' house instead.

Lucas looked helpless, but indulgent as always. He agreed and even asked me to take good care of her.

I felt bad about it, but Zoe waved it off casually. "It's fine. Stay as long as you want."

A couple days later, she told me one of Lucas's college friends had returned from overseas to visit family. Lucas had organized a gathering, with both men and women attending.

She wanted me to come too.

I knew she was worried I'd stay trapped in my emotions and never pull myself out.

So during the days I stayed at her place, she spent almost all her free time with me.

I agreed. A change of scenery might do me good.

The gathering was held at an upscale private club that Lucas partly owned.

That was where I met the friend he was hosting this time–Cooper Wells.

He wore gold-rimmed glasses and looked refined and scholarly.

However, unlike his appearance suggested, he was actually fun and easygoing. With him around, the atmosphere never once turned awkward.

Everyone had a great time.

During the conversation, I learned that despite coming from a wealthy family, Cooper had started his own business. In just a few years, his company had already gone public.

At the end of the night, he asked to add me on Facebook.

I looked at him in surprise, suddenly feeling awkward.

No matter what, Felix and I still had not officially broken up.

Cooper smiled. "Don't misunderstand. Zoe showed me some of your work before. I think your designs are both polished and full of creativity. I just wanted to ask if you'd ever considered changing work environments."

I looked at Zoe. She shrugged.

"I only showed him your work. What you want to do is still up to you.

"But I think you should at least add him first. You can always decide later."

I had to admit, at that moment, I was tempted.

So I added him.

"Sara!"

I turned around and saw Felix standing there, fury written across his face.