The Day to Remember by Jessica Wood

shouldn’t, I wanted to dial Brandon’s number again. I don’t know what I would say, but a strong urge to dial his number took over me.
    Just as I was ab out to call him, Steph came rushing to the bar, her face flushed and glowed with alcohol-induced euphoria.
    “ Shit, how many shots did we have at dinner?” she laughed. “Oh, you’re up next on shuffleboard.” She had a wide smile on her face as she gave Damian a wink. Then she saw my phone in my hand and frowned. “Did you just call Lover Boy?”
    I nodded, feeling guilty. “I know I know. It’s girls’ night out. I shouldn’t have.”
    “You’re the worst!” she teased and laughed.
    I gave her a weak smile. “What if he’s still interested in his ex,” I blurted out.
    “Jesus, Emma. I need to smack some confidence in you. ” Steph tossed her long, wavy blonde hair back behind her shoulder as she sipped from her drink. I notice several guys at the bar eyeing her and watching her every move.
    “Emma, y ou’re smart, you’re hot, and you have an amazing body. Fuck, if I was guy, I’d bang you.”
    I laughed. “Thanks, Steph.”
    “Think about it, he chased after you that morning when that bitch showed up. He called and text you, and even went over to your place. If he was really worried about what that whore thought, he wouldn’t have done any of that.”
    “Yeah, that’s true.” I thought about Steph’s reasoning. Brandon called and texted several times after I had ran out. He also came after me. If Des was really the one he wanted to be with, and she was in town, he wouldn’t have wasted him time to go after me.
    “ The guy obviously gaga about you and wants to be with you, and the bitch knows it. She’s just jealous. You’re fucking the man she wants.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Just remember, she might want him back, but if he loves you, nothing she does will change that unless you let it.” Steph was right. I couldn’t let Des win. There was nothing she could say or do that would make me not love Brandon. So long as he wanted me in his life, I was going to stay with him. There was nothing Des could do to change that unless I let it happen. And I know I would not give up Brandon for anything.
    “Thanks, Steph. You’re totally right. Maybe I should call Brandon to apologize. I was acting kind of weird and suspicious when we ended the call.”
    “Don’t be an idiot. Give me your phone. You’re on time out,” she said as she grabbed my phone and dropped it in her purse.
    “But—” I tried to protest.
    “Emma, snap out of it. You really need to learn how to play hard to get,” she said as she ordered another drink from Damian.
    “It’s not like that between us though,” I tried to reason, though a part of me was unsure of that now.
    “ Girl, every guy loves a chase. Shit, I love the chase, and last time I checked, I’m not sporting a pair of balls down there,” she laughed. “The point is, stop calling him so much. Give him a chance to miss you.”
    Even in my intoxicated state, I knew Steph was right. “Okay, ” I resolved. “Maybe you’re right.”
    “I know I’m right,” Steph said with an air of confidence.
    I laughed. “Okay, I’ll try not to call or think about him for the rest of the time you guys are in town.”
    “Good. And it shouldn’t be too hard. There’s some nice distractions to help you with that,” Steph said as her eyes gestured sideways to Damian, who was approaching them with Steph’s drink order.
    “Damian, babe, Emma needs a distraction tonight so she doesn’t drive herself crazy thinking about her estranged boyfriend. You seem like you’d be great at that sort of thing,” she said, flashing Damian her sexiest smile.
    Damian leaned across the bar towards us, and as his hands pressed against the edge of bar counter, his biceps flexed, causing the intricate arm-length tattoo down his left arm move as if the designs were alive. “Anything for a pretty face.” His voice was husky as he bore