Chapter 2

Lisa panicked. She chased after me, grabbed hold of me, and canceled Drew's ticket on the spot. Then she held up her phone to show me and apologized.

A short distance away, Drew watched us with red-rimmed eyes.

I fixed Lisa with a cold stare and warned her that this was the last time.

With that, I shook off her hand and headed straight for the security checkpoint.

Once we boarded the plane, I put on my eye mask, ready to sleep.

Before long, I heard the soft tapping of a phone keyboard beside me. I pulled off my eye mask and glanced over.

She was typing furiously in a chat with someone saved as "Drewboo."

Lisa: [Don't be upset. This is all my fault.]

A chill ran through my entire body.

She sensed me looking and scrambled to hide her phone.

"Who are you talking to?" I asked coldly.

"No one. Just a client." She couldn't look at me.

I laughed. "A client named Drewboo?"

Her face went deathly pale. "Babe, don't get the wrong idea. I'm just worried he'll do something stupid."

"And if he does something stupid, are you going to go die with him?"

My voice came out a little loud, and the passengers in the row ahead turned around to look at us.

"Keep your voice down." She was embarrassed, and it was turning into impatience. "We finally get to go on our honeymoon. Can you please stop bringing him up?"

"Am I the one bringing him up, or are you the one who can't let him go?" I shot back.

She frowned. "We're just friends. We grew up together. Why can't you just trust me? Can't you be a little more understanding?"

That line again.

I closed my eyes. I didn't want to say another word to her.

After we landed, the hotel's car came to pick us up. She tried to hold my hand, but I shook her off.

The car door slid open. I was just about to climb in when I froze.

Drew was sitting inside, looking at me smugly. Beside him sat two of Lisa's childhood friends, Todd Jones and Rick Wallace.

"Brad, what a coincidence!"

I whipped around and glared at Lisa. Her expression looked a little strained.

Drew hopped out of the car and slipped an arm around her waist. "Brad, Lisa ended up asking me to come after all, behind your back. She said the more, the merrier, and you'd definitely love it.

"You're so petty. Lisa still cares about me."

"Drew, shut up." Lisa was so flustered she could barely string a sentence together.

From inside the car, Todd piped up. "Lisa, quit pretending. You're the one who sent us all the money for the plane tickets."

I looked at Lisa's ashen face and suddenly laughed.

What a performance she'd put on at the airport.

Back at the hotel, she followed me into the room, still spinning lies. "They insisted on coming. Todd asked to borrow the money. I didn't know Drew was coming too."

I quietly watched her put on her show. "Are you done?"

She froze.

"If you're done, get out." I pointed at the door.

I shoved her out with every ounce of strength I had, then shut the door and locked it.

Outside, I could hear Drew and the others trying to talk her down, along with the nonstop sound of Lisa knocking. I tuned it all out.

Two hours later, I changed clothes, planning to step out for some fresh air.

The moment I opened the door, I saw Lisa standing right outside.

And Drew, bare-chested and wearing tight swim trunks, was rubbing up against her. "Lisa, let's go for a night swim tonight, okay? Just like we used to in college."

He glanced my way, his eyes full of challenge.

Lisa looked torn, her eyes darting away. "But Brad..."

"Brad's so easygoing. He definitely won't mind, right, Brad?" Drew grinned.

I walked right up to them and looked Lisa in the eye. "Are you going?"

"Babe, I just want to keep him company so he can unwind a little." She was still making excuses.

"If you do that, we're done for good."

Lisa shoved Drew away and said quickly, "I'm not going."

The push sent Drew stumbling, and he stared at her in disbelief. He shot me an aggrieved look, then turned and ran off.