Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Eight

By the time I finished unpacking, it was late afternoon. My fingers ran over the fabric of the couch that had been there when I moved in as I wondered whether or not to change it before settling on the decision that it would suffice for a while.

There were still boxes piled up in the corner, but the main workwas done. My clothes had been folded neatly into drawers, the small number of books I had bought were stacked on the shelf, and the bedwas made with the new sheets.

I stood in the middle of the living room and exhaled in relief. This was it. My life now. Alone.

My mind wandered back to Fred’s offer from that morning. He’d invited me over for dinner at his restaurant while flashing me that friendly smile. I needed a good meal, maybe a drink, and someone who wasn’t my depressing thoughts.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that heading out would do me good, so I grabbed my phone and dialed his number.

“Hey, Fred? It’s Lauren, from ap