The past, the present, and the future walked into a bar. It was tense.

I thought I loved Daren, and I did in a butterfly-and-hearts kind of way, but it was nothing like this. This is an asteroid shower on a summer night. A tidal wave crashing onto the breakers. Falling over the edge of Niagara Falls in an inner tube. Because I have fallen, irreparably for Gavin Murphy.

Because you’ll always be special to me. Because I should have apologized years ago. Because I want you to be happy.

You’re the World Series. He was Little League.

If you don’t fight for what you love, don’t cry for what you lose.” – Anonymous.

You were the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. You have always mesmerized me.

You probably don’t realize this, but you’re hard to forget.

Don’t worry. I have insurance. And battery-operated accessories that don’t cheat on me or stalk me. Can’t beat that!

I’m pretty sure little hearts are popping out of my eyes right now. Here is this hot man, tattoos decorating his rugged arms, muscles tugging at the fabric, asking me about the baby’s binkie while he holds her close to his chest. Hello, ovary explosion.

That’s the thing about a reputation. It’s hard to break and even harder to reinvent.