Confused

Confused

A month had passed since Mom’s burial, and life was slowly starting to feel… normal again. Or at least as normal as it could be with the press still sniffing around and a homicide case gathering dust in the detective’s office.

He hadn’t been happy when he found out I revealed the truth about Mom’s death to the press during my speech. But after a long apology—and maybe a bribe of his favorite whiskey—he let it slide. For now.

The investigation, however? Still going nowhere.

So, when Suzanne Briar texted me out of the blue—“Back from Japan! Where are you? Let’s hang out!”—I jumped at the chance.

I booked out an entire restaurant so we could talk freely without a single reporter barging in. Of course, Brian and Henry tagged along. I didn’t go anywhere alone anymore.

The Reunion

Suzanne Briar, my best friend since high school. She’d always been a walking ray of sunshine—and a full-blown Japanophile. She spoke Japanese fluently, cosplayed at conventions, and even became a voice actress for anime while she was abroad.

When she walked into the room, she looked as dazzling as ever. Her long black hair—now styled into a chic butterfly cut—framed her face perfectly, and her deep black eyes seemed to glint with mischief. At 5’1”, she was petite compared to my 5’5”, but her confidence made her seem taller.

“What? All of that happened while I was gone?!” Suzanne cried, crossing her arms and pouting like a kid denied candy.

We all burst out laughing. Brian, ever the playful one, flicked her forehead.

“Haha. You’re still so childish Suzanne , aren't you 22 ?"he teased.

“Don’t call me that! And I’m not childish!” she huffed.

“You’re just as dramatic now as you were in high school,” I added with a grin.

Brian Anderson—my boyfriend, my rock, and quite possibly the most charming man alive. His dark hair framed striking emerald-green eyes that still made my heart skip a beat. He was 25, a rising star actor under contract with The Swan—yes, that Swan, whose CEO Sarah Maxwell once dated him. But that was ancient history.

We met while filming a movie together—he played my older brother, and we were both too professional to act on our chemistry then. But later, our first date was watching that movie together. We laughed so hard at our awkward sibling scenes.

Even now, I caught him smiling at me like I was the only person in the room.

“Stacy, we need to go. Your schedule’s packed,” Henry said, checking his watch like the world might end if I was five minutes late.

Henry Yard—my manager and former secretary. Dependable, loyal, and hilariously antisocial. When I hired him, I’d warned him there’d be no funny business, and he’d honored that to the letter. Still, sometimes I wished he’d loosen up a little.

“Oh, Henry, we can reschedule. Right, Brian?”

Brian leaned back in his seat, sliding a hand through my hair. “Definitely. Come on, Henry, stop being such a grandma.”

“Ugh. You two.” Suzanne groaned, covering her face. “Can you not be so lovey-dovey around single people? It’s cruel.”

Brian smirked. “Suzanne, admit it. You’re jealous. But Stacy and I can’t help being this adorable.”

He slipped an arm around my waist, drawing me closer. His thumb brushed my cheek.

“Maybe if we really put on a show, she’ll get inspired to find her own boyfriend,” he whispered, eyes twinkling.

I giggled and looped my arms around his neck. “Oh, I love that idea.”

“NOPE!” Suzanne marched over and yanked us apart. “Cut it out, you two. And anyway, aren’t you worried about being seen? Henry, tell them!”

Henry adjusted his glasses and sighed. “I’ve been trying, Miss Suzanne. But Stacy never listens.”

“You two are no fun.” Brian leaned down and scooped me up bridal-style before anyone could protest.

“Brian!” I squealed, laughing.

“We’re going somewhere else. Bye, Grandma Henry! Bye, Jealous Suzy!”

“Wait! Hold on!” Suzanne ran after us, her heels clicking. Henry followed reluctantly, muttering about schedules and public decency.

At the Arcade

The bright lights of the arcade were a blur as Brian set me down. We grabbed tokens and dived into the games like kids set loose after school. Racing. Air hockey. Dance Dance Revolution. Brian let me win—well, mostly—and Suzanne cheered us on like our personal hype squad.

“Go, Stacy! Crush him!”

Henry, true to form, stood off to the side like a mannequin, arms folded, refusing to join in.

“Henry, come on! Just one round of air hockey?” I called.

“No.”

Classic Henry.

For the first time in weeks, I felt free. Laughing. Living.

As Brian pulled me into another round of Dance Dance Revolution, I caught my reflection in a mirror near the claw machines. My smile looked… real.

Mom, I hope you’re watching. I’m trying. I really am.

As we walked out later, shades and face masks on, Brian slipped his hand into mine.

“You were glowing in there, you know,” he whispered.

I smiled, squeezing his hand. “It’s been a while since I felt this happy.”

It was the best time of my life since Mom passed away. Moments like this make me wish they could last forever.