The Breakup Mix Read Online Free

time.” Alissa stared at the carpet shaking her head. “No wonder he didn’t give me any grief over the trip,” she mumbled.
    “Maybe I’ll pee in his coffee Monday.” Katie scowled and we all laughed.
    Silence and what-do-we-say-now glances filled the room.
    “Anyone else need a warm-up?” Michelle took Dani’s cup and headed to the breakfast cart. Everyone else took their seats and let the weight of the news settle over them.
    Dani looked at me. “I keep thinking about the house. We bought it with the hopes of filling it with children. It’s a mighty big house for a one-woman show.”
    I winked at her and smiled. “Dani, you’re going to be fine. Life is going to suck for a while, but you’re going to be fine.”
    “I know. But I had this vision of my life with Barry. Soccer games, dance recitals, first birthday parties, weddings, graduations, hopefully not in that order.” She grinned and wiped her tears. “My beautiful painting has just been wiped clean. All I can see now is a blank canvas.”
    Alissa grinned. “And have we got the perfect colors for you, my dear.” Unity filled the air, and a spark ignited in Dani’s darkened eyes.

Chapter Two
    Irreplaceable
     
    Dani
     
    Against the advice, and perhaps interference, of my dearest friends, I went home alone to face my new reality as a soon-to-be divorced woman. I didn’t know what to expect. For all I knew, Barry’s sitting at the dining room table waiting for me to come home so he could profess how wrong he’d been and beg me for forgiveness. It would be completely out of style for him to do such a thing, but childish hope won over rational thought as I eased the car into the driveway and held my breath as the garage door lifted. His car was gone, and so was my hope. I panned the garage and made mental notes of everything that was missing. This dead space was a testimony to what the house had in store.
    The kitchen looked normal, only minimal damage there. The dining room was untouched, but he’d gutted the living room. He’d taken most of the furniture minus the couch and my great-grandmother’s antique rocker that had been passed down to every daughter when their first child was born. Mother got anxious and gave it to me when Barry and I bought this house. The chair now seemed to be mocking me. Our entertainment center, his chair and end table, the coffee table . . . everything was gone. However, he left our wedding picture. I took it off the wall and placed it face down in the rocker. They could mock me together.
    I made my way through the rest of the house. After witnessing the living room, I knew his office would be an abandoned tomb and I was right. Nothing left in there but a power strip and a potted plant. Our bedroom was unscathed except for his empty closet, but the guest bedroom was also empty. Mr. Efficiency must have hired movers to help him.
    Thirty-two hundred square feet and Barry had managed to take exactly half of everything we owned. A bed for me? A bed for you. A chair for me? A chair for you. Seven years to build and one weekend to divide. And all because my body had failed us.
    “I can’t stay here tonight.” My voice sounded hollow bouncing off the walls of the nearly empty living room. I grabbed my purse and the overnight bag Barry had so lovingly packed for my surprise get-away and headed for the door.
    When I turned around, Alissa stood in the main entrance waving a bottle of wine. The dam broke on my held-back tears as I let her in.
    I grabbed her in a huge hug. “You scared me to death, but I’m so glad you’re here.”
    She chuckled. “Going somewhere?”
    I wiped my eyes. “Actually, I was headed to your house. I can’t stay here tonight.”
    She threw her arm around me. “Let’s see the damage and then we’ll head out.”
    “I’ve already been through here. It’s awful.”
    Alissa surveyed the once meticulous house, now sporadic at best. I followed her and pointed out things she might have missed