Pretend To Be His Bestie For Her! Fine, I Dumped My Boyfriend And Childhood Buddies! Chapter 09

Pretend To Be His Bestie For Her! Fine, I Dumped My Boyfriend And Childhood Buddies! Chapter 09

When I arrived in New York City, my new coworkers threw me a welcome party.

“We’re doing a team retreat in a nearby city tomorrow. We already signed you up.”

I felt a little awkward..

“You didn’t have to go to all that trouble.”

One of my coworkers patted my shoulder.

“It’s no big deal. Happy to help.”

The retreat was an overnight trip.

When we reached the hotel, the manager greeted us apologetically.

“I’m very sorry. We had a system error, and we’re fully booked.”

“One guest in your group won’t be able to check in here tonight.”

I looked at the list.

My name was the one on it.

My coworker glanced at the list.

“Mia, why don’t you stay at the hotel next door?”

My stomach tightened for a second.

Then she continued.

“It’s a five-star hotel.”

“Don’t worry about the cost. We can expense it.”

The hotel manager quickly added, “Since this was our mistake, we’ll cover the other hotel.”

My coworker insisted on walking me all the way to the other hotel.

We stepped into the elegant lobby together, and she helped carry my luggage.

“We’re going to a nature park later, I’ll drive over and pick you up.”

I thanked her, but she looked almost embarrassed herself.

“This was my fault. I should’ve confirmed everything with the hotel.”

I smiled.

“It’s okay. Stuff happens. I understand.”

After she left, I stretched out on the soft bed.

A message came in from my former neighbor, Lily.

[I could cry from happiness.]

[I come to New York for a visit, get a free place to stay and a cat to play with?]

[What more could I ask for?]

I opened the pet camera app.

Lily was playing with Pumpkin in my apartment.

She tossed a toy toward him.

The huge orange cat lazily swatted it once and sent it skidding far across the floor.

Lily immediately ran to retrieve it.

I stared at the screen in silence.

Was she playing with the cat, or was the cat playing with her?

Also, once I got home, Pumpkin was definitely getting more exercise.

Another text came in.

This one was from Logan.

Logan: [How have you been lately?]

I replied:

[Pretty good.]

Logan: [You moved to New York?]

[Yeah.]

Logan: [Are you ever coming back?]

[Not sure. Depends on what the company needs.]

There was a long pause before another message appeared.

Logan: [Since you left, none of us have been doing that great.]

Logan: [Ethan has gone back to that island several times.]

Logan: [He says that’s where he lost you, so he keeps going back like somehow he’ll find you there again.]

I didn’t reply.

Ethan belonged to my past.

But I’d stopped waiting for him a long time ago.

Our work group chat was blowing up with dinner suggestions.

Everyone had to name at least one restaurant they wanted to try.

I typed:

[Aren’t we only here for one night?]

[How are we supposed to try this many places?]

A coworker answered almost immediately.

[Delivery!]

[Everyone can order whatever they want. There are enough of us.]

[Gotta love delivery apps.]

I smiled.

So this was what it felt like to be around people who didn’t expect everyone to want the same thing.

We could all like different things.

We could all make different choices.

That didn’t have to be a problem.

I didn’t need to change myself for anyone.

Restaurant names kept pouring into the group chat, and one coworker kept egging everyone on.

[Add more! Add more!]

[The company’s paying for all of it!]

A moment later, she tagged me.

[We’re heading to the park soon. I’m coming to pick you up now.]

I got dressed and walked downstairs.

My coworker was already waiting outside.

I used to put up with things and keep giving in for the sake of people I called friends.

I didn’t need to do that anymore.

The spring sun was bright overhead.

My coworker sent me a voucher on my phone.

[We bought these for everyone. You can use it at the coffee or smoothie place nearby.]

[Get whatever you want.]

[No rush. The others are getting there first, and they’ll wait for us at the entrance.]

[Buckle up. We’re heading out!]

The trees on both sides of the road rushed past as the scenery kept changing.

Maybe life was like that. You kept moving, and the view changed with you.

There was no point regretting what I’d already passed.

All I had to do was keep going.

There would always be something new ahead.