sophomore。 “You need to do it。 I want you to do it—we both do。” Vanessa reached for the puppy and buried her nose in its soft and fluffy fur。 “How long will you be gone？” she asked。
“A few months。 But you can e to Reykjavík whenever you want。 I mean； you need to。 I don’t know what I’ll do without you。”
“You’re not gone yet；” Vanessa murmured。 It was a lot to process。 She was sad； but not upset。 Yes； Hollis was leaving； but somehow； their relationship seemed stronger than ever—strong enough to stand the distance。 And maybe a few months apart would be good for her； too。 She could concentrate on her own work。
“Thanks for bringing me a friend；” she added； still cuddling with the puppy。
“I’ll miss you guys；” Hollis said huskily。 He kissed Vanessa’s forehead； then the puppy’s。 “Take care of each other。 You two are my family now。”
Vanessa smiled。 “Absence makes the heart grow fonder； right？ And a few months isn’t too long；” she insisted。
Right。 And Iceland isn’t very far away at all。
on some nights； frenemies beat strangers
“Vodka tonic；” Blair said brusquely to the Tribeca Star bartender； a pretty platinum blonde who looked like she’d never had her heart broken before。 Unlike Blair； who’d had her heart broken—five？ Seven？ Nine times？—by the exact same guy。
“Another one？” The bartender arched one penciled…in eyebrow。
“Yes；” Blair said icily。 It was her right to get as drunk as she wanted after the night she’d had。 She pulled out her cell and dialed Pete’s number again。 Of course it went to voice mail。 Tears pricked her eyes。 It was really over。
Blair felt a tap on her shoulder。 She whirled around； ready to tell whoever thought it was a good idea to talk to her to fuck off。
“You okay？”
B