NICOLE

"Daphne is my ex," Sebastian explains after a few beats of silence. "She and I broke things off about three months ago."

"That's not too long ago," I comment.

"It feels like it is," he claims as he turns his head to look at me. "Things were ugly for us, and I just wanted closure. I still do. I don't understand why my mother would invite someone who cheated on me."

I nearly choke on the gasp that was going to slip from my lips, but I've managed not to make a sound. I don't mean to ...