Lena’s POV
The apartment feels cavernous without Avery’s chaos. No off-key pop anthems blasting from her Bluetooth speaker, no clatter of cocktail shakers at midnight, and no glitter bombs on the bathroom counter. It’s the first time in forever she won’t be around. The weekend yawns open like a black hole, her absence a dull ache. She left yesterday for that Hamptons bartending gig and won’t be back until next weekend. I’m alone with my thoughts, my ramen leftovers, and the ghost of Sebastian’s voice from his office (“I find it very insulting…”).
I’m sprawled on the couch in mismatched socks, ankle finally pain-free, picking at cold pizza crust when my phone dings. Wes. Bethesda Fountain, noon? Dying to see you. s**t. That’s true. I completely forgot we were meeting. The text glares at m
