Chapter 84

I led in the kitchen, and Jess played sous chef. We chatted, catching up on the three years since we were last together. After rehab, she had gotten into a serious relationship for a year. She had treated that as her new addiction, adding in a healthy yoga habit. But it turned out the perfect guy also had two other girlfriends, one of whom he had a baby with.

"It left me pretty jaded," Jess said. "So the last couple years? I've been a little bit of an introvert. But what that's allowed me to do is discover myself. I've done a lot of personal growth the last two years."

"You seem like you're in a really positive place," I said.

"Thanks," she said. "I've learned that there's a lot more in life I can control."

"So no more partying?" I asked.

"A little partying," she said flirtatiously. "If I had an eight ball, it would last me a month instead of a day.&