Still No Peace After Years Apart

"Yves, you got her name wrong again." Xenia Quade laughed as she corrected him. "Her name is Sarah Queen."

Yves Warren traced a finger around the rim of his glass before looking up at me in confusion. "It is?"

"Yeah. Sarah Cole is the heroine from that novel I recommended to you." As she spoke, Xenia leaned a little closer to him.

Yves let his hand fall away from the glass and nodded. "Guess I mixed them up."

There wasn't a trace of concern on his face. I found myself barely breathing.

So twenty-three years of growing up together couldn't compete with a novel he'd read.

Xenia rested her chin on her hand and blinked at him playfully. "Just don't copy the guy in the book. I still can't believe he ended up with the other girl."

My throat tightened, my fingers unconsciously bunching the fabric of my skirt.

Because the other woman in that book was named Xenia.

The light in Yves's eyes dimmed almost immediately, and when he spoke, his voice was low.

"I thought those two made a pretty good couple. The heroine was way too dramatic. She kept making a big deal out of every little thing and asking about it over and over. Nobody could put up with that."

My heart sank, and my hand slowly curled into a fist in my lap.

Yves was always forgetting our past, so I kept bringing up the memories we'd shared. Over time, he'd started getting impatient whenever I did, telling me I was being dramatic too.

I took a deep breath and looked up, only to meet his eyes.

For once, the whole table went quiet.

One of our mutual friends, Jason Reed, quickly got to his feet to lighten the mood. "All right, let's take a group picture. Once everyone's busy with work, who knows when we'll all manage to get together again?"

He nudged Yves toward me, then stepped aside and picked up Yves's phone.

"Come on, everybody. Get in."

Everyone stood, but Yves naturally moved to Xenia's side instead. The backs of their hands brushed.

His voice softened. "Xenia shouldn't have to stand by herself. I'll stand with her."

The light in my eyes diminished. I picked up my bag and started to leave.

"You guys take the picture. I've got something to do."

I'd barely turned around when Jason caught my arm and pulled me back.

"There's plenty of room. Just get in."

He positioned me on Yves's other side.

Everyone was laughing and joking around, but I couldn't bring myself to smile.

There were only a few inches between Yves and me, yet it felt like we were worlds apart.

"Let me see!"

The second the photo was taken, Xenia eagerly snatched the phone away. Smiling, she bumped Yves with her arm.

"See? I told you. You look good when you smile.

"If you don't believe me, let's check the older pictures."

Her eyes flickered with mischief as a grin curved across her lips.

The next photo was from the day Yves and I had gone to a bridal studio for our wedding photos. I'd asked him to take a picture to mark the occasion, but Xenia had suddenly stepped into the frame. All that was left of me was a blurry profile at the edge.

She swiped again.

Another picture was from a grocery run Yves and I had made together. Xenia had squeezed into that one too, leaving me tucked into a tiny corner at the top right.

She kept scrolling.

Photo after photo appeared, and not a single one showed my face clearly.

Our friend glanced at me, then slapped Yves on the shoulder. "Where are all your pictures of Sarah? Don't tell me you've got a secret stash you're keeping from us."

"Come on, let's find them." Xenia laughed as she kept scrolling.

Then she stopped.

"Wow. There really isn't a single one."

I stood there, swallowing against the tightness in my throat.

I'd wanted pictures with Yves before too, but he always said he didn't like taking them. He'd only forget about them anyway, so there was no point.

Eventually, I'd stopped asking.

Now I understood.

He hadn't disliked taking pictures.

He just hadn't wanted any with me.

Xenia took my hand with a cheerful smile. "It's fine. You two have plenty of time."

Yves looked at me next.

"Xenia's right. Stop standing there looking miserable."

I stared back at him.

And suddenly, I realized there really wasn't much to this relationship after all.

I was tired of it.

All of it.