Chapter one

Reyna’s POV

If life had a sense of humor, and I was convinced it did, it would look exactly like my calendar that morning.

Promotional exam, check.

Interview, same day, why not.

Three year anniversary with my boyfriend, Jeremy Hesse, oh, absolutely.

Emotional stability, missing. Presumed dead.

“Breathe, Rey,” Celine said through FaceTime, her face filling my phone screen while I stood outside the building, clutching my bag like it might run away without me. “You’ve studied. You’re smart. You literally glow under pressure.”

“I don’t glow,” I muttered. “I sweat. Aggressively.”

She laughed. That familiar, obnoxiously comforting laugh. Celine Gomez, my best friend since elementary school, keeper of my secrets, destroyer of my calm. “Same thing. Glow, sweat, it’s all moisture.”

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. “If I fail this exam, I’m blaming you.”

“If you pass, you’re buying me wine,” she shot back. “Expensive wine. Promotion level wine.”

“Deal,” I said, then hesitated. “Hey……wish me luck?”

Her expression softened. “Always. You’re going to kill it. And tonight,” she wiggled her eyebrows, “anniversary magic.”

I snorted. “If Jeremy ever stops being busy.”

That was the thing. Unlike the past three years, this anniversary felt off. Jeremy and I had a misunderstanding, small, technically, but it had lingered like a bad smell you pretend not to notice. We had planned to talk, to fix it, to do what adults in love supposedly do. But days ago, he told me something had come up. He would be extremely busy that night. We agreed to meet the night of the next day instead.

Reasonable yet slightly disappointing.

“Tomorrow’s still good,” Celine had said earlier. “Don’t overthink it.”

I was excellent at overthinking.

“I’m going in,” I told her now.

“Go ace it,” she said. “Call me immediately after. Immediately. I want to scream with you.”

“I will,” I promised, then hung up and walked inside, heart pounding.

Hours later, actual hours, I stumbled out of the building like a survivor of some intellectual war zone. I was among the last people to be interviewed, which meant my brain was fried, my feet hurt, and I was dangerously close to answering questions with sarcasm.

But somehow, it went amazing.

The interviewers smiled. They nodded. One of them even said, “We’d love to see you step into this role.”

I floated. I swear my feet barely touched the ground.

I pulled out my phone the second I stepped outside. “Celine,” I whispered dramatically as it rang. No answer.

I tried again. Nothing.

“Oh no,” I groaned. “Don’t tell me you’re asleep.”

Celine loved sleep the way normal people loved oxygen. If sleeping were an Olympic sport, she would have gold medals and endorsements. Still, this was important. She should be awake.

Unless …..”she was out with the new worker at the hospital” I muttered.They’d been flirting for a while now exchanging looks and inside jokes and suspiciously long “breaks.” .Still, why would she sleep through this? on such a day?

“At least she could sacrifice,” I muttered. “I would have.”

I tried again, straight to voicemail.

“Unbelievable,” I said, then laughed. Typical Celine. I’d forgive her. Eventually. Maybe.

I brushed it off with a joke to myself and I switched tactics and called Jeremy . The phone rang. And rang. Then stopped.

No answer.

I frowned. “Okay… rude.”

Maybe he really was busy. He’d warned me. I couldn’t fault him for that. Still, disappointment crept in, unwelcome and annoying. I was calling Jeremy, first to tell him the good news and then to ask if he could come get me or send one of his assistants.

Coincidentally yet surprisingly, he also did not answer.

“Really?” I murmured. “Today of all days.”

Could it be that he too was tired from the day’s work as he had told me before?

Or these two were planning a secret surprise for me? Well….. I thought, smiling to myself.”It would be cute to do that for me “, I said to myself.

I hailed a taxi and slumped into the backseat. “Home, please.”

By the time I reached the apartment, it was around 8 p.m. Late. Too late for celebrations. I unlocked the door, already rehearsing my congratulations speech to myself.

“Hello?” I called.

No answer.

But the smell hit me instantly. Good food. My lips curved into a smile despite everything.

I blinked, stepping inside. The dining table was set. Candles. Plates. Celine’s cooking,she only cooked when she was emotional, bored, or plotting something.

“She didn’t,” I murmured, grinning.

Were they hiding in there? I went into the room , no sign of Celine, or even Jeremy.I searched the entire apartment and no one was there too. I dropped my bag and pulled out a chair. As I lifted one of the lids, I spotted a note.

Emergency dinner with my crush. Couldn’t say no. Eat everything. Proud of you already. Call me tomorrow. Don’t wait up , kisses.

I laughed. “Called it.”

I sat down and ate a few bites, but my appetite disappeared quickly. My mind drifted-to Jeremy. To us. To how perfect tonight should have been. Three years. Memories. Inside jokes. Promises.

Why had he been distant lately?

I sighed, pushing the plate away. “Stop it, Reyna.”

Then the thought hit me.

What if I surprised him?

I sat up straighter.

What if I went to him tonight? Just talked. Made things right. Reminded him of us.

My heart picked up speed.

“That’s insane,” I told myself. “He said he was busy.”

But another voice cut in.

You only live once.

Celine’s favorite line. Her excuse for bad decisions, spontaneous trips, and one regrettable haircut.

I smiled.

She’d tell me to go. She would proudly stand at my back and encourage me to do it.

I stood abruptly, decision made. I went to my room, adrenaline buzzing through me. .I showered quickly, then reached into my drawer and pulled out my favorite lingerie-the one Jeremy had given me for my birthday.

“If I’m doing this,” I said to my reflection, “I’m doing it properly.”

I slipped it on, threw on a coat, and grabbed my bag. Before leaving, I pulled out my phone and typed a message to Celine.

I’m out too. May we all enjoy.

Send.

I laughed, shaking my head, then stepped out into the night, heart racing, convinced I was about to fix everything.