My Love, Her Leverage

My ribeye was getting cold as I sat alone at Vince's Steakhouse, waiting for Nicole on our one-year anniversary.

I' d booked her favorite corner booth, even checking myself out of the hospital despite cracked ribs, all for her.

Then her text came: "Stuck in chem lab. Won't make it. Raincheck?" My heart sank.

But just as I was about to signal for the check, a group was led past my table.

My world stopped.

It was Nicole, in the dress I bought her, laughing with her college roommate and her high school sweetheart, Luis-the one who' d ghosted her when her life fell apart.