My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 64 Concealing Heartbreak

Evelyn

"Are you sure you're okay?" Clara asked, lifting a sandwich to my lips. "You seem different."

"Why?" I asked, my brow furrowing as I took a bite, "Did you spend a year moping around after your first heartbreak, crying for someone who clearly didn't care about you, or did you turn into a depressed woman starved for love?"

I could sense her surprise at my response. I couldn't blame her; my friends were all reacting the same way. They expected me to act like a heartbroken woman, crying and drowning in grief. Perhaps I should have, but for some reason, I couldn't. I didn't know why but I also didn't try to figure out any of it.

I felt strangely numb. Everything seemed oddly normal because I had, to some extent, shut down my emotions, shutting out everything that hurt.

"Well, not really, but you were acting completely different last night," she said, wiping the corner of my mouth with a handkerchief. "Are you sure you're okay, Evelyn? You don't have to pretend. I'm here for you."

Was I pretending?

No, absolutely not. As long as I could keep him and those painful memories buried in the darkest corners of my mind, I'd be fine. And I had every intention of keeping them buried for a really long time. "I'm just trying to keep myself busy, Clara," I sighed, "I don't want to waste any more thoughts on that cold-hearted bastard and I am done wasting my tears too. He's out there fucking his ex, so at the very least, I need to go back to living a somewhat normal life like I used to before him."

"So, you're avoiding the pain instead of confronting it," she said, her eyes softening. "Evelyn, I'm telling you, it's not a good idea. When it finally hits you, it will hurt more than you can imagine."

"I think it hit me the hardest when I saw him with that bitch today," I chuckled softly. "And since he's moved on so quickly, I should too."

Yes, I could manage to keep him out of my mind for good. It wasn't a big deal. I had been fine before him, and I would be fine after him.

and move on. You can't move on unless you face it. Your dad and I have been in

let

allow him nor his memories to

of the sandwich. "I'll be fine, and

"Evie..."

lectures, Clara. Trust me, I'm fine, and I'll stay fine at least until this wedding is over," I interrupted, planting a kiss on her cheek.

moment. Right now, I was in a temporary state of contentment, even though both of us knew that it might not last long, she didn't want to disrupt it. So, in the

up to babysit a five-year-old when I

stuck with me

***

on my speaker. It was a peculiar feeling, as if I were awash with

was not totally dead, of course. I could still feel it- the pain trying to crawl up those walls I

was going to

fragile thread above the charred remains of a bridge. Each time I delved into my emotions, I unearthed things I'd rather not see, feelings I wished to destroy, and above all,

was all I had

its scent a blend of roses and honeysuckle, Jennie popped her head

Evie, are you-?" she began but stopped short, clearly taken aback.

allure, not when my intentions for the evening were anything but innocent- I couldn't really forget someone embedded in every cell

"To fuck?"

course, what else for?" I rolled my

Jennie laughed. "You're going to have plenty of them