Page 119 of Big Dick Energy

“This is why a postnup should have been signed,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. Then louder: “Don't make this harder than it has to be, Davina.”

“Harder than…” I couldn't breathe. The kitchen felt too small, the walls pressing in. “Sam, our marriage stopped being fake months ago. I thought the plans to divorce were dissolved.”

Sam's expression shifted, pitying, almost, and it made my stomach drop.

“Here's what's going to happen,” she said, her tone shifting into the brisk efficiency of someone reading a battle plan. “You'll be going to Paris alone. That's where we'll start the rumors of trouble in paradise. Next time you're both seen together publicly, you'll be without your wedding rings. After that, we'll begin the social media separation. You’ll unfollow each other first, then remove photos, the usual steps.”

“Sam…”

“I'll handle everything.” She continued like I hadn't spoken, scrolling through her tablet with terrifying efficiency. “Including hiring a truck to start moving your things back to your apartment. I assumed you'd want the transition to be smooth.”

My old apartment. The one I'd moved out of months ago, leaving behind a life that felt like it belonged to someone else now.

“This is insane.” My voice shook. I hated that it shook. “I need to talk to Dallas because…”

“Because what?” Sam cut me off, her voice firm. Final. “This was always the plan, Davina. Dallas has been very clear with me from the beginning about his intentions.” She set down her tablet with a soft click. Her eyes met mine, and when she spoke again, her voice was gentle in a way that somehow made it worse. “Dallas isn't the marrying type. He never has been. And honestly? You were never really his type.”

Her words burrowed into my chest and made a home there, settling in next to every insecurity I'd spent a lifetime building walls against.

“I mean,” she paused with a look of pity flashing across her face, “let’s be honest here. You’re fat, and he’s… not.”

A flicker of pain shot through my chest, and it was suddenly hard to breathe.

The doorbell rang again.

I jumped, startled back into my body, and realized my face was wet. When did I start crying?

“That's probably Brooke,” I managed, swiping at my cheeks with the back of my hand. “We have podcast stuff…”

“I should go.” Sam stood, gathering her tablet. “I'll send you the timeline via email. The movers will coordinate directly with you about scheduling. And Davina?” She paused at the kitchen entrance, looking back at me. “I really am sorry. This is the hardest part of what I do, cleaning up the mess. But it's better to rip off the bandage, don't you think? Clean break. Move forward.”

She let herself out.

I stood in the kitchen and listened to the front door open and close. Heard Sam's voice, brief and professional, greeting whoever had arrived. Heard the click of heels on the walkway, then silence.

Then Brooke was there, her face pale, her eyes wide, her hands reaching for me.

“Davina? Davina, what happened? What's going on? Why are you crying?”

I opened my mouth to explain, but nothing came out.

Brooke pulled me into her arms, and I collapsed against her, the tears falling.

You were never really his type.

Her words echoed in my head, drowning out everything else.

CHAPTER 35

SHE KNEW HOW THIS STORY ENDED

DAVINA

The couch cushions had absorbed approximately three thousand of my tears, and I was pretty sure I'd used up every tissue in a five-mile radius.

Brooke sat beside me, her hand rubbing slow circles on my back while Ricky had wedged himself into the nonexistent space between us, his small body pressed against my thigh like he was trying to anchor me to the earth through sheer force of dachshund will. His brown eyes hadn't left my face in twenty minutes.

“Okay,” Brooke said slowly. “Let me make sure I understand this correctly. You and Dallas got black out drunk in Vegas, got married, and worked out this elaborate scheme to stay married for six months to a year, but then you fell in love.” I nodded, shrugging. “And today, Sam showed up, told you Dallas asked her to start planning your divorce, mentioned he'd requested attorney recommendations, and then informed you that movers would be coming to pack up your stuff?”