The Night Before I Knew Him
I make use of my eyes, soaking in the gold fixtures and marble floor, when I hear it—
"JUNE ALEXANDER?"
I turn.
It's Tyler. Kayla’s fifth ex-boyfriend. Tall, goofy, with too-loud jokes and energy that could crack a ceiling. He’s wearing a blue button-down and a grin big enough to eat the sun.
"Well, well, well," I laugh, already walking toward him.
We hug. We talk. My mouth runs, and I begin to feel lighter than I have in days.
We joke about Kayla. It’s easier because they didn’t break up on bad terms. Then we drift into stories about bad tequila and worse hangovers, he was my drinking partner the time he and Kayla were together.