b38 /b

    ANNA’S POV

    “Anna,e on, let’s go inside. What are you looking at?” Sasha‘ voice broke me out of my thoughts, and f blinked hard before finally tearing my eyes away from the ss windows of that restaurant. My chest was still tight, my whole body buzzing, with unease, but I forced myself to move and followed Sasha into the building.

    She was excited, talking non–stop about the racks of gowns and how tonight was going to be unforgettable, but my mind wasn’t here at all. It was still outside, on Ryan and thatdy as they stepped into that restaurant. How she held him so close as if she owned him. My throat ached just reng it. Could that be Sophie? The Sophie? The name that had lingered in my head ever since I first heard it?

    Sasha pulled one gown after another, asking me questions. “What about this? Should I go with something bold? Something sparkly so every guy in the g hall turns his head?” She twirled dress in front of me, her eyes sparkling like she was living for this moment.

    I didn’t even hear half of what she was saying. I nodded vaguely, my hands brushing against fabrics but not really seeing them. My chest kept getting heavier, because Ryan hadn’t replied to my text, not even after bI /bsent him a picture of ray neck, asking him directly what the hell this was supposed to mean. And now, instead of an answer, I got the image of him with another woman burned into my head.

    My eyes stung. My vision blurred. I blinked quickly but the tears wouldn’t stop building until one slipped down my cheek. I tried to swipe it away fast, but Sasha noticed.

    “Anna?” Her voice was sharp, almost annoyed. “Seriously, what is it now? You’ve been spacing out all day, and now you’re crying in the middle of a boutique. What’s wrong with you?” She set the dress down with a sigh, folding her arms.

    “It’s nothing,” I muttered quickly, trying to force a smile that felt pathetic. “Maybe it’s just random tears or something, I don’t know. Hormones or stress-

    “Don’t lie to me, Anna,i” /iSasha cut me off, stepping closer. “Talk to me. What’s really going on?”

    I shook my head hard, my throat tightening. How could I tell her that the reason I was crying was because the man whose name was literally carved into my skin was sitting in a restaurant with another woman like I didn’t exist? How could I tell her that Ryan had marked me, imed me in a way that was supposed to be permanent, and now he was ignoring me as if it meant nothing? Sasha would think I was pathetic. She would tell me I was a fool for letting him get to me this much.

    “It’s nothing,” I whispered again, wiping at my cheeks, but the tears wouldn’t stop. My chest hurt too much. My whole heart felt like it was splitting in two.

    Sasha sighed, looking frustrated and worried all at once. She grabbed my arm and shook me gently. “Is this about him?” Her voice was softer now. “The so–called childhood crush? The one you met at the club? The one you… you know… slept with? The one whose name you tattooed on your neck? Is he the reason you’re crying like this?”

    My lips trembled. And then I gave the smallest nod.

    Sasha’s eyes softened instantly, and she pulled me into a hug. “Oh my baby,” she whispered, stroking my back. “I knew it. knew it had to be about him.”

    I couldn’t stop the sob that escaped me. I cried harder, burying my face against her shoulder, my whole body shaking as I le out. She didn’t even know the half of it, but she held me anyway, letting me get it out.

    “Anna,” she murmured after a while, pulling back just enough to look at me. “You’ve got to try to forget him. At least for now. I know it feels impossible, but you can’t let him tear you apart like this. You can’t give him that power.”

    Her words made my chest ache even more, but she wasn’t done. I could see the frustration in her eyes now, the way she was holding back but couldn’t anymore.

    38

    +15 bBONUS /b

    ?

    “bAnd /bbI /bbneed /bbto /bbask /bbyou /bsomethingb,/b” she said, her voice sharper. “bWhy /bdid you act so rashly? Why did you tattoo his name bon /bbyour /bneckb? /bYou don’t even know his true colors yet, Anna. He isn’t even your boyfriend. Yet you went ahead and did something so extreme. Do you realize how crazy that looks? Ever since that totoo, you haven’t been yourself. You’ve been sadb, /bwithdrawn, broken. What has he done to you?”

    I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I didn’t know how to exin something I didn’t even understand myself.

    Sasha shook her head, her tone softening again. “Well… it’s one of those mistakes we make as young adults. It happens. It doesn’t mean your life is ruined. It doesn’t mean this is the end. You just have to learn from it.”

    I bit down hard on my lip, my tears spilling again. Sasha wiped them away with her thumb and smiled gently.

    “Come on,” she said, looping her arm through mine. “Let’s forget about him for now. Let’s focus on tonight. Let’s shop for our gowns and get ready to own that g hall. You’re gorgeous, Anna Any man would want you. Don’t waste your tears on one bguy /bwho doesn’t even know how lucky he is.”

    “I can’t just forget him,” I whispered.

    “You can try,” Sasha said firmly. “And I’ll help you. Tonight is our night. A celebration. We just got into university. Don’t let him spoil this for you. Please, Anna. Let’s make this about us, not him.”

    I sniffed.

    “And don’t worry,” Sasha added, grinning suddenly, though I could still see the frustration in her eyes. b“/bI’ll call my friends. I’ll set you up with one of the hot guys who’s been eyeing you since day one. He’s gorgeous, funny, and trust me, he’s been dying to meet you. He’ll be the perfect distraction. You’ll see. I’ll make you forget all about that guy tonight.”

    “Sasha…” I started, shaking my head.

    “No arguments,” she said quickly. “Tonight is ours. Okay?”

    Her words almost made meugh through the tears because she was so serious, like she was already nning out my rebound. And even though I was still breaking inside, I felt a little lighter, a littleforted, like making myself believe she might be right.

    So I nodded, smiling weakly. “Okay. I’ll try. Let’s shop.”

    “That’s my girl,” Sasha said, smiling big now, pping her hands together as she dragged me toward the dresses again. “Now, let’s find the perfect gown for you because tonight, baby, we’re going to own that g.”

    And for a while, I let myself get lost in it, in theughter, in Sasha’s chatter as she pulled gown after gown for me to try, making silly faces in the mirror, cheering me up without even trying too hard.

    Finally, after what felt like forever, we found our perfect dresses. bI /bheld mine against me, smiling at Sasha as she twirled in hers

    both of usughing now as we walked to the counter to pay.

    And then, just as we were about to hand over our cards, a voice came from behind us.

    “I’ll pay for that.”

    We turned, and my heart stopped. Ryan was standing there.