Even now, he refused to face reality, still spinning empty promises, still trying to manipulate me.
Disgusting. Greedy. Whoever wanted him could have him.
I didn't care if I left with nothing. I was divorcing him.
An hour later, I sat on a bench outside the hospital, freshly bandaged. I scrolled through my phone until I found a number I hadn't dialed in years: Nathan Henson.
We'd been inseparable in high school. But after he went abroad for law school and I started dating Delgado, we drifted apart. To keep Delgado from getting jealous, I'd cut off contact entirely after the wedding.
Ten years. Gone in a blink.
I stared at the screen, thumb hovering over the call button. Finally, I pressed it.
"Alex? Is that you?"
His voice made my chest tighten. "Mm," I managed.
He still had my number. After all this time.
When I didn't speak, he chuckled nervously. "To what do I owe the pleasure? Don't tell me you're in trouble."
Same old Nathan. Still using humor to break tension.
"I... I need your help with something."
The words came out halting, reluctant. But I forced them through.
"Name it," he said instantly. "Where are you? I'm back in Riverdale. I'll come find you."