Chapter One

             Violette

As he spoke, his words dripped with insincerity, “It's not you, Violette,”he began, uttering what had to be one of the most trite breakup phrases in history.

“It's me, I'm just not ready for a serious relationship."

I expected him to loose interest earlier since I  had refused to have sex with him since the very beginning.It seems his patience has finally worn off.

I fix him with a stern gaze, my mind racing with the audacity of his claims.

Hadn't he been the one to push for a relationship from the start, three months prior?  I finally relented, sacrificing my precious day off to accommodate him? And now, he had the temerity to list off flimsy excuses as though he hadn't been the driving force behind our fleeting romance.

"We're not even in a serious relationship, Logan.”

I interjected, my voice firm but controlled, offering him an easy escape.

His shoulders sagged in relief as he looked up from his untouched steak, and I bit back the urge to douse him with my glass of wine.

"'Besides, we barely spend any time together,' he continued, oblivious to my growing irritation.

“You're always working, it feels like I'm dating a ghost.”

I rolled my eyes inwardly, weary of his dramatics.

“It's fine, Logan, I understand.” Isaid dismissively, my patience worn thin by exhaustion.

I had to get home and rest before my afternoon shift the next day.

With a swift motion, I opened my clutch and tossed a few dollars on the table, rising to my feet.

As I turned to leave, Logan called out, “Hey...”and made a move to grab my wrist.

.”We can still be friends, right? We don't have to end things on a sour note.”

I sidestepped his grasp, my voice cool. 'No thanks, I'm good.'

The audacity of this man was staggering.

With my ego bruised and my body heavy with fatigue, I made a swift exit, leaving Logan and his half-baked excuses behind.

             ***************************

“I’m home!” I yell tiredly when I enter the apartment I share with my Italian roommate Aria.

Aria and I met during my postgraduate program after nursing school, and we clicked instantly.

We exchanged numbers,hang out on the days I was free and decided since she just graduated and didn’t want to go back Italy,and we were both looking for an apartment outside of campus,we could be roomies. I believe the heavens sent her to me cause I could barely make ends meet even while working two part time jobs, I couldn’t afford to pay for an entire apartment by myself.

She is my best friend and I love her despite her crazy personality and her weird mafia—Yes! The mafia is a real thing in Italy—family she hardly talks about, we are cool, though we sometimes argue about my inability to timely close the toilet lid after using the toilet.

Can you blame me? I barely have time for myself.

“How was your date!” She yells back from the kitchen with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

She never liked Logan,and I am on her side this time.

He is such a dick for breaking up with me on a Friday night, which is going to leave me in a sour mood throughout the weekend. Not like I loved Logan or some shit.

I walk into the kitchen with my heels in hand, my feet hurts like a bitch.

“Awful.”I groan as I hop on the breakfast bar.

“As predicted.” Aria quips as she spreads peanut butter on a slice of bread.

“He broke up with me.” I say with a yawn.

“Thank God” Aria groans before taking a bit of her sandwich.

“ What exactly was his reason?” She says after chewing and swallowing.

I groan cause I don’t really wanna talk about how he bruised my ego, and ruined my night.

Aria waits patiently for my reply, even when I groan about multiple times,complaining about why she wants to know about the date when she didn’t even like Logan.

“Something about me barely having time  for him blah blah blah.” I finally reply.

“And what did you say to him?”

“Oh my god” I groan for the thousandth time “Aria I love you but I really need a shower and bed, and maybe one of those sandwiches you just ate.”

She smiles at me knowingly, she will keep bothering me till I spill every single thing, she is nosy like that.

“Alright go take a shower, I will bring some to your room.” she says

“Thanks babe,you are a lifesaver.” I say before hopping down and heading straight to my room.

As I stepped into the shower, the warm water washed away the stress of the evening. I let out a deep sigh, feeling the tension melt from my shoulders. Logan's words still lingered in my mind, but I pushed them aside. I didn't need him anyway. My career was my priority, and I was doing just fine on my own.

After the shower, I wrapped myself in a cozy towel and walked into my room. Aria was already there, sitting on my bed with a plate of sandwiches and a glass of water. "Thanks, girl," I said, giving her a grateful smile.

I took a bite of the sandwich, savoring the peanut butter flavor. "Mmm, this is so good," I said, feeling a bit more energized.

Aria rolls her eyes. “It’s just a peanut butter sandwich .Now, spill the beans. What really happened with Logan?"

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "Aria, I told you. He said he wasn't ready for a serious relationship”

Aria raised an eyebrow, waiting for more information

“And I barely spend time with him cause of my work”

Aria nods “Yeah he is right on that one, you are a workaholic”

“No I am not!”

“Yes you are,” she insists “well I am glad you are no longer with that dick” she says with a chuckle

I shrug. "Honestly, I don't care.”

“I know” she laughs before getting up and heading to the door.

“Good night schnookums” I said just to annoy her, cause she hates whenever I call her that.

She scowls at me and shuts the door, but I hear her laugh in the hallway.

I felt my exhaustion start to lift. Talking to Aria always made me feel better.