You and Cade had broken up. It had been messy. There was yelling, and tears, but you told yourself ‘it’s all for the better.’ No more of his sweatshirts, your wardrobe feeling smaller. You woke up in a cold bed, all alone. No arm around your waist, no calloused hand tracing shapes on your bareback.

He’d fallen into a pattern of late nights out, drinking more, and girls. Women. He’d spend evenings with girls to get you off his mind. Though he’d never admit that to anyone, at least not sober.

If she had a pulse she met his standards now, he'd himself it’s all for the better.

You were sat downstairs with Beau, Rhett and Harvey around you and you’d never felt more alone. Ever. Laughs, jokes and bantering had never been more quiet.

Alone. Even surrounded by crowds you felt alone. Because no one was him. No one was Cade. You two barely had a conversation with each other anymore.

He returned home, a little tipsy with Beau and Rhett in the kitchen. Harvey had disappeared to meet with some friends so it was just you four.

“Cade. Where the hell you been?” Rhett frowned looking up from the cards game we’d begun on the white marble counter in the kitchen. You kept your head down, not saying anything.

“Some chic.”

Some chic?! You almost seethed.

“Cade, this has gotta stop.” Beau said, after exhaling a drag of his cigarette. “You’re blowing smoke, hopin’ you’ll numb it all away.”

“My thoughts exactly.” You muttered almost silently, but as always, Cade caught the movement of your lips.

“What?” He snapped. “What?” You replied coolly.

“Fucking girls, obsessive drinking and staying out late isn’t going to help you.”

“How the hell do you know what’s good for me?” He said, daring you to answer back.