1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Ava

"There are far too many dicks in this city," I mumbled, closing the last box.

Blowing out a heavy breath, I glanced around my now-empty closet. I still couldn't believe how quickly my life had imploded. In less than twenty-four hours, I had lost my boyfriend and now my home. It almost seemed pathetic that two years of my life could be packed up in five boxes.

"Is that everything?" Lydia asks, walking into the closet. She glances down where I sit, staring at the now empty space.

"Yeah, I think so," I say, moving to stand.

Lydia moves to me, pulling me in for a tight hug. I've never been big on showing affection, but right now, I need her comfort. I had given up everything to be with my ex-boyfriend, Ben.

"Everything is going to be okay. In a few weeks, you will look back and realize that losing that piece of shit was the best thing that ever happened to you," Lydia whispers into my ear.

I pulled back, wiping away a tear. I know that she's right, but it doesn't take away the sting that burns in my heart. I had loved Ben with every fiber of my being. I had given up my friends and family to make him happy. I thought we were going to get married and live our own fairy tale. Everything was perfect… until it wasn't.

Coming home early from work, I caught Ben in bed with one of the nurses he worked with at the Seattle hospital. Shattering my heart into a million pieces, I realized that my life with Ben was over. I called Lydia, my only friend and family who still spoke to me, and she rushed over to help me pack.

Ben tried to beg me to forgive him, but the damage had already been done. I knew he was a good person at his core, and I still loved him, but I couldn't allow myself to be with someone who could so easily disrespect our relationship with another woman.

"I hope you are right," I sigh. "I'm really going to miss this closet," I say, managing a small smile.

Lydia laughs and starts to walk out of the room. "I hope this closet is the only thing you miss about this place."

Later that evening, I sat on Lydia's patio couch as we enjoyed a bottle of wine. We had moved my stuff into her guest room, and her sweet boyfriend, Tyler, helped carry my boxes inside. I hated intruding on Lydia's space, but she insisted I stay with her until I figured out where I would live.

My phone vibrates next to me, and Lydia snatches it before I look at the screen. It doesn't matter, I already know that it's Ben. He's been calling me non-stop all day.

"Stop calling, you asshole!" Lydia shouts into my phone.

My mouth falls open. I can't believe she even answered. Turning off my phone, she hands it back to me and refills my sweet wine. "Please, don't let him talk you into getting back together."

Sipping my wine, I shake my head. "I still love him, and my heart is aching, but I refuse to live my life like my mom did," I explain.

My father cheated on my mom for the entirety of their marriage. She always took him back, and it caused me to lose respect for her each time. When she was diagnosed with cancer, my father didn't even have the decency to stick around. He left and found another woman care for him like my mom had for so many years. She died and, at that moment, I became alone.

"You are strong, and you will get through this," Lydia says, offering me support.

Right now, her words are hard to believe, but I pray in time, I will heal. "I hope you are right."

"I think this is the best thing that could have happened to you. Let's take a picture to show Ben and everyone else that you are strong and resilient," Lydia states, holding up her phone.

"I don't know." I bit my lip in worry. Smiling and acting like I didn't just have my heart ripped out of me seems odd right now.

"Come on. Let Ben see that he doesn't own your heart."

For some reason, those words spark something deep inside of me. Even if I fake it, knowing that Ben could see me looking happy and not crying over him gives me a sense of peace. He can't win.

"Fine, but just one picture," I agree.

Lydia jumps up and moves to sit next to me. She holds her phone up and offers a big smile. I smile at the camera, praying that this isn't something that I will regret.

Lydia snaps the picture and then adds it to her social media, tagging me.

"Do you really think I did the right thing?" I asked her.

"Of course you did. Ben doesn't deserve you. Someone is out there right now, just waiting to meet you, love you, and show you just how incredible you are. Mark my words, your soulmate is ready to meet you." She smiles, taking my hand and squeezing it.

As the sun sets in the distance, I allow a genuine smile to spread across my face. Hope stirs, and all I can do is hope that Lydia is right.