Chapter 0219 Hannah I shuddered as I looked at my phone: the forum post claiming to have proof of my divorce with Noah was up to 7,000 likes. Just 3,000 more, and the poster would supposedly post this soâcalled âproofâ... Whatever it may be.
âHannah? Earth to Hannah?â
The sound of Vionaâs voice snapped me out of my haze. I quickly shut my phone off and slipped it into my purse, meeting her gaze from across the table. For now, I would have to push the thoughts of that forum post out of my mind. After all, I was supposed to be out for dinner with my friend.
âYou okay?â Viona asked, eyeing me from across the booth at our favorite restaurant. She dipped a chip into the nacho cheese, swirled it around, then took a big bite.
I forced a smile and shook my head, sipping my drink. âYeah, Iâm fine. My mind is just... elsewhere right now.â
Elsewhere. Still stuck on that night with Noah, more like. I still couldnât get that image out of my mind: his Jarge form hunched over me, the heat between us, the way his face turned black before he stormed out. It felt like the final nail in the coffin.
Viona raised an eyebrow but didnât push it further. Instead, she changed the subject. âSo, about Amberâs wedding. Can you believe itâs only a month away?â
I shook my head. âTheyâre getting married so fast... He only proposed a couple weeks ago.â
âThatâs what Iâm saying.â Viona leaned in, lowering her voice. âThis whole situation is fishy. Frankly, I still think Jake is gay.â
I bit my lip, remembering what I had seen at the club during our girls night. I hadnât mentioned it to Vional yet, or anyone, really, because that also happened to be the fateful aforementioned night with Noah.
âActually, Vi... I saw something the other night that makes me think you might be right,â I said, pursing my lips. âI almost forgot, what with everything else going on... But I think you should know.â
Vionaâs eyes widened. âSpill. Now.â
I glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then recounted what I had seen at the clubâJake with another man, their intimate body language, the almostâkiss.
âHoly shit,â Viona breathed, leaning back in her chair. âI knew it. Heâs using Amber as a beard!â
âHang on. We donât know that for sure,â I said, holding up a hand to placate her. âMaybe heâs bi?â
Viona shook her head vehemently. âNo way. If he was and they were in some kind of open relationship deal, you know Amber would have mentioned it.â
I nodded, realizing that Viona was right. Amber wasnât exactly a closed book. âOkay, but what do we do about it?â I asked.
âAmberâs so in love, she would never believe us without proof.â
âThatâs the problem,â Viona sighed as she dunked another chip into the cheese. âWe need solid evidence. But how do we get it is the ques-â Before she could finish, the chip slipped from her fingers and fell back 1/2 +25 BONUS Chapter 0219 into the cheese. Her eyes widened as she looked over my shoulder, and I turned to see what she was looking at.
Speak of the devil.
Drake, brushing the rain water off of his jacket, caught sight of us almost immediatelyâlike he could sense us looking. He didnât hesitate before approaching. âLadies,â he greeted. âMind if I join you?â
âNot at all,â Viona said, scooting over to make room for him. As he shrugged off his jacket, Viona shot me a sly wink that made me roll my eyes.
As Drake settled in, he ordered a drink from the waitress. Once she was gone, he looked back and forth between us. âSo, what are we talking about? You both looked pretty serious when I walked in.â
Viona and I exchanged wary glances. Drake wasnât really privy to our personal friend group drama, but he had been helping me figure out what was going on between Zoe and Noah... Maybe he could help with this, too.
âWeâre talking about our friend Amber,â I said.
âWeâre... worried,â Viona added.
Drake cocked an eyebrow at us. âWorried? Why?â
With a sigh, I filled him in on our suspicions about Jake, including what I had seen at the club. Drake listened intently the entire time, his brow furrowed.
By the time I was finished, his drink had already arrived. He took a sip, swallowed hard, and let out a low whistle. âThatâs rough,â
he said. âAre you gonna tell her?â
âWe would, but the problem is,â Viona chimed in, âwe have no proof. And Amber would never believe us without it.â
âSheâs totally in love with him,â I added. âSheâs been head over heels for him since they started dating a few years ago. Sheâd never believe us unless we ha