August 7, Wednesday

"THANKS FOR sending the mail," I said.

"No problem," Frida said. "Did you open the pieces with Curtis's name on them?"

"Yeah. One was a thank-you letter from on online gambling site for being such a loyal customer."

"Gawd."

"And the other was an invoice from a jewelry store."

"A jewelry store?"

"For an engagement ring."

"Ah. The ring you never got."

I sighed. "Right."

"How much of your money did he spend on it?"

"Nine thousand."

"Big spender."

"I looked up the model number on their website—it's a gorgeous ring."

"Wonder what the jerk did with it?"

I was quiet.

"Josie?"

"I might've… noticed… on Instagram that he's… engaged."

"To the overtanned influencer?"

"Uh-huh."

"Girl, don't tell me he gave her the ring he bought with your money."

I closed my eyes. "Okay."

"You can't let him get away with this!"

"I just want it to end," I murmured. "I don't want to fuel anymore humiliating headlines."

"I'm still wondering who leaked your text messages. My money is on Curtis."

"Why would he do that? He doesn't exactly come across as a hero in those messages." Granted, neither did I… if he looked like a parasite, I looked desperate.

"He's a publicity whore. All he wanted was a scandal with someone with a big enough name to attach himself to."

"I don't have the big name—it's my mother's."

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Josie."

"Regardless, the money I lost was a tax for being stupid."

"You weren't stupid, you were in love. And you trusted him."

I made a face. "Can we change the subject to something good?"

"Your new book is going to be a bestseller and you'll make so much money, you won't even miss the nine grand."

"Right," I said, pushing down the rising panic in my stomach.