Burning Down the Spouse by Dakota Cassidy Page A

you’re still young and pretty, though you’ve let yourself go these days because you figure why get your gorgeous on when you won’t ever have Mitch’s seal of approval again. You’ll learn that was all bullshit when you find yourself again.”
    All wise words, except for one little problem. “Where exactly do I go to find myself anyway? I keep hearing that phrase bandied about like a tennis ball. Is there a place of business for it? Like the Find Yourself store?”
    “If only it were that easy. We’d all be lined up. It takes time to figure out who you are when you’re a scorned trained seal.”
    Frankie’s smile was ironic. What a spot-on way to describe their former lives. She spread her arms wide. “Has any of this helped you? I mean Maxine’s guides and pep talks and support meetings?”
    Jasmine’s head bobbed with enthusiasm. “I know it sounds hokey-guru-ish, all the crazy euphemisms she’s got and pamphlets on how to adjust to being poor—which in and of itself is just pathetic, isn’t it? Nobody forced me to become candy for some rich man’s sweet tooth. I let that happen and, in the process, I became complacent. I didn’t have to end up poor. That’s on me. So yes, I’ve learned a lot since I found Maxine and Trophy Jobs. If it weren’t for her, I’d be in the nearest homeless shelter. Instead, I have my own little studio apartment and a cat named Gary.”
    Nothing said enticing like a cat and a studio apartment.
    Jasmine gazed at her, her hazel eyes, deep and alluringly seductive, capturing Frankie’s. “I know it doesn’t sound like much, but to me it’s everything. I have more pride than I ever did as Ashton’s wife, and I’m content. I can’t say I was ever really content when I was married to him. My life is a whole lot simpler now, but I don’t miss the privileges much. Okay, maybe I miss the weekly manicures and my masseuse, but there’s something to be said for knowing you can take care of yourself, learning how to budget, making a living that’s all yours.”
    Who knew Maxine Barker was such a goddess? “And Maxine did all of that for you?”
    “Nope. She was just my port in the storm. She taught me to suck it up, but I did all the sucking,” Jasmine said on a throaty giggle.
    Suddenly, this was all too much information for her. It was a bit like attending an Amway convention with tips and advice for pitiful divorcees.
    Jasmine patted her arm in consolation. “You’re not there yet. You’re still too resentful Maxine interfered, and sometimes these meetings can be overwhelming. All those sad stories of one-time rich women dumped on their saggy asses for younger, hotter babes. I wonder sometimes what someone on the outside would say about all this vapidness in just one room.”
    Frankie’s eyebrow rose. “You mean the dreaded middle class?”
    Jasmine barked a husky laugh. “Yeah. Looking back now, hearing some of the new girls and their stories, I have to remind myself I was once like them.”
    “You make this adventure sound like you’re Cinderella, only in reverse.”
    “Trust me when I tell you that once Cindy was done running off with the prince, I’d bet my still perky ass she was bored to tears living in that castle with nothing to do but wait for Prince Whatever to come home on his white steed.”
    Frankie laughed again. Huh. For the second time tonight. Like real, honest to God laughter.
    Jasmine rose, leaving Frankie strangely regretful she was planning to make her exit. “Some of us are going to Greek Meets Eat for coffee. You wanna come with?”
    Oh, hell to the no. She’d had enough of the diner and hot-pants Nikos and his assumptions for one day. Frankie glanced at her watch. “I can’t. I have an early day tomorrow. Maybe another time?” She found she meant that, too. Jasmine’s approach to her very public divorce was to live out loud, and it piqued Frankie’s curiosity.
    Jasmine wrapped her equally red scarf around her neck and buttoned