Chapter 3

Once the divorce papers were filed, Logan dropped the decent-husband act for good.

He packed up his stuff and moved into Ivy's apartment, and she flooded my inbox with more photos to show off.

Bedroom shots, kissing pics, everyday moments, like I was her backup photo album.

Once I got the divorce decree, I finally didn't have to put up with it anymore.

I blocked her right away. Then I sat on the couch, trying to figure out how to actually live for myself.

For the past twenty-five years, my parents sent me from home to school, and then the Brooks family handed me off to the Whitney family. Every word, every move, every breath was always according to their wishes.

After getting married, I had no opinions of my own, no big dreams. I stayed at home, mooching off Logan, doing whatever he said.

Now that I was suddenly free, I had no clue what to do with myself.

Then I remembered Logan's advice: find someone I knew really well, someone who definitely wouldn't fall for you and was way too lazy to bother lying.

I opened up my contacts list.

Most of them were old classmates I barely kept in touch with, all living the same boring lives.

Then I spotted a black profile picture.

A thought flashed through my mind. 'Wait, how did I forget about him?'

Tristan Cole was the ultimate bad boy back in high school. He smoked, fought, and was always pissed off.

He was also from a rich family, went globe-trotting after graduation, and now he was apparently some kind of entrepreneur.

I only knew him because one time he got beat up so bad that he passed out on the street, and I happened to be the one who found him and called 911.

When Tristan woke up, he insisted on paying me back.

And that was how we ended up swapping numbers.

I checked out his social media and saw he'd really cleaned up his act. Now he was running a bar and looked like a real boss.

After hesitating for a while, I finally sent him a message, thinking maybe he could introduce me to someone. [Hey, do you remember me?]

Tristan replied almost instantly. [Yeah, Nina Brooks.]

'He actually remembers me?' I thought. 'So, what now?'

Before I could type a reply, he sent a few more messages. [What's up? Need something?]

Tristan: [Say the word. I can help.]

Tristan: [Forget it, I'll come find you. Where are you?]

'He types really fast,' I thought.

I quickly sent him my location.

Tristan replied in a flash. [Alright, I'll come pick you up.]

*****

When Tristan showed up, he was rocking a sharp suit and driving a black SUV. He looked calm, stylish, and pretty handsome.

When he saw me, he walked over, stiff and awkward, like he was nervous as hell. "Hey, long time no see."

His awkward vibe rubbed off on me, and I started feeling nervous, too. "Hi, you didn't have to go out of your way for me.

It was not like I was here for anything serious, anyway.

Tristan's hands were sweaty, but he kept his poker face, all business as he opened the car door and motioned for me to get in. "Get in first. Let's find somewhere to talk."

On the way, the car was quiet, with a faint jasmine scent drifting through the air.

I felt a bit awkward, so I started fiddling with my fingers.

Tristan was watching the red light, but when he noticed me fidgeting, he turned and said, "Is the car making you uncomfortable? Sorry, my brother took the fancy one, so you have to make do with this less flashy ride."

If my family didn't have the same model of Mercedes, I might've believed the car was really less flashy.

I licked my lips and decided to be upfront. "It's not the car. I just don't know how to bring this up."

"Say whatever you want. Don't be so nervous," Tristan said.

With Tristan's intense gaze on me, I gave him a quick rundown about Logan and everything that happened. "So, I'm divorced now, and I kinda want to try living differently.

"But I barely know anyone, and even fewer I actually trust, so I thought maybe I could ask you for some advice."

Bringing up this kind of topic with a guy I barely knew was super awkward.

For an introvert like me, it felt like torture.

But I knew if I wanted to break out of this rut, I had to do things that made me uncomfortable. I couldn't hide in my shell like before.

I took a few deep breaths, my face turning bright red, waiting for Tristan to laugh or tease me.

But after waiting for ages, he didn't say a word.

I turned to look at him, and his ears were redder than mine.