Chapter 1

The room was buzzing with laughter and flirty vibes until a hush fell over it like a thick blanket.

Sheila Jones was wrapped up in Yoel Lewis's arms, their closeness more than a little suggestive.

"Why are you back so soon?"

Sheila stood up, looking caught, but then spun it on me instead.

"Can't you even call first? Have you forgotten that I'm your girlfriend?"

It turned out that she remembered she was my girlfriend, but that did not stop her from cozying up to Yoel.

I could not help but laugh bitterly, "Oh, do you remember you have a boyfriend? I was starting to think you were too caught up in the moment to care."

Sheila's face soured.

"Erick, what's that supposed to mean? You come back throwing around hints and scowling. Who are you trying to impress?"

I was too tired to deal with that.

My eyes landed on the matching cartoon slippers on Sheila's and Yoel's feet.

My own slippers were nowhere to be found.

'Isn't that just hilarious, Erick?' I mocked myself.

I dropped my suitcase and turned to Yoel. "I'm still waiting for an answer. Where's your kid?"

Yoel gulped, looking like he wanted to stand but Sheila held him down.

He gestured dismissively at me, "Erick, don't sweat it! We were just kidding around, playing Truth or Dare!"

The girl with the bubblegum-pink hair next to him chimed in, dramatically clutching her chest. "Totally, Erick. Don't get it twisted! We always spice up the game with some racy jokes. It's all in good fun!"

Everyone else seemed to snap out of it, rushing to smooth things over.

"Exactly, Yoel just says whatever he wants. He doesn't think first!"

"Come on. If Sheila had given it up to him, we'd all know. We'd never hear the end of it!"

"Erick, lighten up, man! It's no fun if you can't take a joke!"

I scanned their faces, all pretending to play peacemakers while actually blaming me for overreacting. My chest felt tight, annoyance bubbling up inside.

That was not my first rodeo with that kind of drama. Anytime Yoel and I hit a rough patch, Sheila and her clique would silence me with "it's just a joke" or "you're too sensitive".

I was done dealing with them, but I locked eyes with Sheila and challenged her, "Was that message you sent a minute ago supposed to be funny too?"

Sheila's eyes flickered away, and she instinctively edged behind Yoel.

Her voice took on a whiny tone as she replied, "I... I was trying to plan a surprise for you, getting them to brainstorm..."

She did not get to finish because Yoel let out a mocking laugh.

"Sheila, your boyfriend can't handle a joke. You try to plan a surprise for him, and he ends up scaring you instead."

I rose to my feet, my gaze shifting to him. "Oh, really? I've got a surprise of my own."

My eyes swept the room, finally settling on the coffee table and the vase Sheila adored.

It was a piece of crystal glass, supposedly crafted by some renowned artist from Itania, Sheila's absolute favorite.

In a heartbeat, I grabbed it, hoisted it high, and slammed it down to the floor.

The vase exploded into fragments at my feet, the sharp sound of shattering slicing through the fake calm.

The room fell silent, stunned by my outburst.

I met Sheila's furious gaze and, with a frosty grin, I taunted, "How do you like that surprise? What's wrong? Not having fun anymore? I'm just spicing things up a bit!"

Sheila trembled with rage. "Erick, what are you freaking out about?"