For a second, I held it against my chest.
Madison’s eyes shone.
Then I put it in my bag.
Outside on the terrace, the cold air hit my face, and I finally cried. It wasn’t the old kind of crying, where I tried to stay silent so no one would hear.
This was different. It was quieter and cleaner.
The door opened behind me.
“Eva?”
Ashley stood there, arms wrapped around herself.
I finally cried.
I wiped my cheek. “If you’re here to defend Madison, don’t.”
“I’m not.”
“Then what?”
She stepped closer, then stopped like she knew she hadn’t earned the right. “I should’ve said something back then.”
“Yes,” I said. “You should have.”
Ashley nodded. “I laughed because I was scared they’d turn on me.”
“If you’re here to defend Madison, don’t.”
“I believe you,” I said. “Madison made it easy to follow her.”
Ashley’s face softened.
“But that doesn’t make it okay,” I added.
“I know.”
“And I’m not going to comfort you for feeling guilty.”
She looked down. “I know that too.”
For a moment, we just stood there with the music humming behind the glass.
“I know that too.”
Then Ashley said, “You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you.”
“I mean, you changed so much.”
I turned to her.
“No,” I said. “I grew. There’s a difference.”
Ashley swallowed. “There is.”
I left before she could ask for more than I had to give.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
