AN: To my wonderful team, Ashley, Mandy, Marie, Monica, and Sally: Thank you so much! To you, the reader: I hope you enjoy this one!

You know those moments when you've had hit after hit and when the final blow comes, you have absolutely zero reaction?

In the past year, I totaled my car, got laid off from my job, my parents divorced after 35 years of marriage, which wouldn't be so terrible if I wasn't an only child and I didn't truly believe they were better off together. I've also had approximately a dozen or more packages stolen by the various homeless who seem to just be camped out on the sidewalk in front of my apartment building.

And my childhood dog died.

It's been a long day of interviews that seem like they're going nowhere. I either get called back for second interviews and don't get offers or I never hear back at all. I went to school for social media marketing, but I don't have a ton of experience. I run a small lifestyle blog, but for the past four years, I've been working at a local cafe that also roasts its own beans. Working as a roaster, I made more money than a typical barista, but as sales slowed down, I got laid off, and I've been trying to find a job ever since.

My unemployment is about to run out, and my savings are almost completely depleted. I just have to suck it up and take anything. As I ride the elevator up to my floor, I vow to apply at the McDonald's down the street first thing in the morning. When I step into the hallway, I notice several of the apartment doors have notices on them.

When I get to my own door, I rip the notice off and skim it as I jingle my keys in the lock. "Great," I mutter to myself. Our lease is up for renewal and rent is going up by five hundred dollars! Huffing out a breath, I push the door open only to be met with the pounding sounds of heavy metal from the living room stereo.

My boyfriend, Jacob, doesn't seem to be home, and our roommate Emily's bedroom door is shut. Dropping my purse on the kitchen counter, I move to the entertainment center to turn down the music. It's not my taste, but both Em and Jake love it. As the volume decreases, I can distinctly make out some very explicit sounds coming from Emily's room. I feel a flush creeping onto my cheeks; not because I'm a prude but because Jake and I haven't been intimate in months … closer to a year, if I'm being honest.

I might be a little jealous of my roommate.

I go to change out of my interview outfit and into comfy clothes when my bedroom door swings open, and I see Jake standing there with his clothes bunched up in his arms and a startled look on his face at finding me home.

"Bella! What are you doing home already?" He looks more than flustered, flushed in fact. His hair is wild, and I know he's naked behind the clothing he's clearly using to hide himself.

"It's after six. What's going on, Jake?" I'm looking at him, not willing to admit what I'm seeing when Emily comes running in with Jake's boxers in her hands.

"Babe, you forgot—"

"Emily." Jake just stares at her, standing there in an oversized shirt that I know belongs to my boyfriend. He turns to look at me. "I can explain."

"Please don't. Whatever this is between you, you can have it." I move past Jake to pull out my suitcase from the closet and start packing all my clothes into it. "I've had the single most difficult year of my life. How long has this been going on?" Looking up, I see them both whispering to each other.

"About six months," Emily finally says.

I nod, continuing to pack my clothes. "I'll take what I can tonight, but I'll have to come back for my books and furniture I guess." I look over to Jake and see the pinched expression on his face. "Do I want my furniture after the last six months?"

Emily sighs and her face flushes.

"I see. Well, that makes things difficult since my parents bought me all that stuff when I moved out of the dorms." Sighing, I plop down on the bed before quickly standing back up.

"We didn't … we would never … not here." Jake tells me hurriedly, and I shake my head.

"Thank God for small miracles, I guess." I chuckle lightly, "We'll figure it out."

"Bella, do you want to talk or, I don't know? Yell at us?" Emily looks worried, and I can't say I blame her. I think anyone else in my position would be freaking out, raging at the both of them. Jacob and I have been together for five years. Emily and I have been close friends for almost seven years.

I should be furious and heartbroken, but I'm not. Jake and I were never in love, and we've only grown apart over the years. Truth be told, had I been in a better financial situation a couple years ago, I wouldn't have agreed to have him move in with me and Emily. In no way do I think this is my fault, but I'm happy to take a small percentage of the blame.

"Why don't I pay you for all the furniture? And then we can set up a time for you to come pick up your books and everything else. Maybe this weekend?" Jake offers, and I smile lightly.

"Sure thing. That'd be great." I zip up my suitcase and grab a smaller duffle to pack my shoes before moving to the bathroom to pack up my toiletries. When I exit the bathroom, Jacob has finally pulled on some of his clothes.

"Where are you gonna go?" Jake asks as I move all my bags over by the door.

"I'll call Rose, but I'll probably end up at my dad's for a while. I can't stay with Rose and Emmett indefinitely." I'm taking inventory of my stuff: clothes, shoes, toiletries, my laptop bag with all my tech and chargers, and my purse. "This should hold me for the rest of the week. Can we just plan for Saturday morning?"

"Yeah, that's fine, Bella. Um, let me know when you get settled tonight, okay?" Jake asks quietly, and I nod.

"Sure. I'll see you in a few days." I manage to wrangle all my stuff down the hall to the elevator. Once I'm in the parking garage, I struggle more than I want to get to my car. Once I do, I crawl into the driver's seat and cry. Not because I'm sad but because I'm frustrated. I quickly send Rose a text and tell her I'm coming by and that I need to crash for the night.

She doesn't ask any questions, just tells me to use my key because she and her husband Emmett are out for dinner. When I roll up to their house, I unload my stuff into the guest room and pour myself a glass of wine before crawling onto the couch and zoning out to true crime shows on Netflix.

I don't notice when Rose and Emmett come home until Rose curls up next to me on the couch. "I've seen this one. The detectives were wrong."

"Sometimes, they are. Sometimes, I am too." Laying my head on her shoulder, I tell her what happened this evening. Rose doesn't riot on my behalf; she laughs. Then I start laughing, and soon, we're crying and snorting as Emmett comes into the living room to see what's so funny. When I collect myself enough to tell him, he scoffs.

"You never loved Jacob anyway. You can stay here as long as you want; you know that." Emmett is a huge, gregarious, and thoughtful man.

"I appreciate that, Em. But you and I both know we'd all drive each other crazy inside a week." I smile at him and Rose, my two best friends. "I'll take a couple of days, and then I'll call my dad."

Rose shoots a look at her husband before turning to me. "I know you think Facebook is dead, but Charlie Swan is alive and well on that platform and so is his relationship status."

"What are you talking about?" I ask, reaching for my phone, pulling up the app.

"Your dad has been dating Sue Clearwater, and I'm pretty sure she's all but moved in." Rose is looking over my shoulder as I scroll through my father's recent posts. Their fishing trips and hikes, camping weekends, and Sue redecorating my childhood home.

"He never told me! How long has this been going on?" I look between Rose and Emmett.

"About four months. You know they've always been close, especially after Harry died." Rose shrugs and leans back against the couch, sighing. "Just stay here. We'll figure everything out. I promise it'll be fine."

We talk about the prospect of me living with them, temporarily, for another hour or so before we all decide to turn in for the night. I spend another hour unpacking and setting up their charming guest room to accommodate myself.

As I lay down in bed, ready to sleep away this day, I think to myself that I just need one thing to go right. One thing to turn in my favor. Then I'll be okay.