The Ex by Freida McFadden(40)

“I don’t need to go out every Saturday night.”

“You don’t go out any Saturday night!”

Somehow, I think of Dean’s business card, nestled inside my wallet. I had intended to toss it when I got home, but I didn’t. I didn’t call him either though.

“I have the perfect boy for you,” Nonna declares. “My friend Esther’s grandson.”

I roll my eyes. “What’s wrong with him?”

“There is nothing wrong with him. Why do you say that?” She hesitates. “Well, he is a little bit on the short side. That’s all.”

“How short?”

“Just a little bit.”

“How short, Nonna?”

“Tutto bene, forget it,” Nonna sighs. Which means he is about four feet tall. “I am just saying, patatina, that you need to get out of the house. It’s not healthy for you to be here every night.”

“Yeah,” I mumble.

“Isn’t there anywhere you can go tonight?”

Well, I’m not invited to Lydia’s party, so that’s off the table. I grab my purse and rifle around until my fingers close around a set of keys. Olive’s keys.

Maybe there’s something I can do tonight.





Chapter 25: The New Girl


Cassie makes an attempt to locate Joel. Presumably, he’s somewhere nearby. They’re in an apartment, after all, not a museum. But upon scanning the vast living room of this four million dollar apartment, she doesn’t see him. Maybe he’s disappeared into a bedroom. Would it seem pathetic if she went searching?

Instead, she decides to look at Lydia and Pete’s photos. They’ve got at least a dozen of them on their mantle over what looks like but couldn’t possibly be a real fireplace. There’s a photo of Lydia and Pete on their wedding day—Lydia radiant in her bridal gown, and Pete looking slightly bewildered next to her. Then one of Lydia pregnant with Violet, followed by a second where she’s clinging to a newborn Violet in what appears to be some sort of park.

Where is Violet, anyway? Cassie hasn’t seen her the whole night. Is she stashed away somewhere? Cassie could imagine Lydia closing the little girl in a room and firmly telling her not to come out under any circumstances. Violet would absolutely listen. Cassie had never met a more well-behaved child.

Cassie’s eyes fall on the next photo, which is a group picture that looks like it was taken at a recent Halloween party. Lydia looks stunning as Rapunzel, which seems to suit her just as well as Elsa—there’s something about Lydia that screams out beautiful blond princess. Pete is dressed as Han Solo—definitely a Star Wars theme with this guy.

And then there’s Joel, grinning at the camera, dressed as a policeman. He looks as happy as she’s ever seen him. And his arm is around a beautiful brunette who is dressed as…

Cleopatra.

Cassie’s mouth falls open as she studies the Cleopatra in the photo. The woman in the costume is absolutely stunning. Really, really beautiful. Dark hair cascading down her shoulders. An absolutely perfect body. Even her teeth are perfect as she smiles for the camera. She’s the most beautiful Cleopatra who ever was. Elizabeth Taylor, eat your heart out.

“That’s Francesca.”

Cassie backs away from the photo, her cheeks growing warm. Of course, Lydia would catch her ogling this photo, which she suspects may have been put here for her to see. Lydia has a tiny smile playing on her lips.

“Have you never seen a photo of her?” Lydia asks.

“I…” Cassie tries to swallow but her mouth is too dry. “I haven’t…”

Lydia shrugs. “Well, that’s not surprising. I’m sure he put them away.”

Cassie looks from the photo to her own costume. No wonder everyone was so shocked by what she was wearing. Who shows up to a costume party dressed identical to the way your boyfriend’s ex dressed? She can’t even imagine what was going through Joel’s head when he saw her.

She raises her eyes to glare at Lydia. “You told me to dress as Cleopatra.”

Lydia lifts an eyebrow. “Did I? I don’t recall that.”

“I asked you what costume I should wear…” Cassie’s trying to sound angry, but to her own ears, her voice sounds pitiful. “And you told me Cleopatra!”

“Perhaps I did.” She shrugs. “Well, you have to admit, it’s a good idea. Francesca looked so stunning, didn’t she?”

Cassie doesn’t know what to say to that.

“But then again, she’s so gorgeous.” A smile plays on Lydia’s lips. “She could have been a model if she wanted, but she said cooking just called to her. I must have subconsciously been thinking about how stunning she looked in that costume. Such a great choice.”

Cassie tugs at the slit in her dress, feeling more and more self-conscious. She glances around the room and everyone seems to be staring at her. And whispering. She’s dressed up just like Francesca, Joel’s ex. Two women she doesn’t recognize are staring at her, and they simultaneously burst into laughter. Anna and Con are sitting on the couch, and Anna shakes her head in disbelief as she stares at Cassie.

They all think she’s crazy.

“Where did you get that dress anyway?” Lydia’s lips twist into a smirk. “It’s… interesting.”