Chapter 3

I stood alone outside the county clerk's office for a few minutes, cold wind cutting into me. I thought I'd feel free. Instead, my chest just went hollow.

In a daze, I noticed Cassidy's car pulling back around. I figured she had something else to say. The window rolled down, showing half her face.

"Come with me somewhere," she said, cold.

"Where?" I frowned.

"Preston's welcome-home dinner. He said it's not every day he gets back into the country, and you used to be his best friend. You can't just skip it."

The word "friend" hit like a needle straight to my temple.

Not many people knew that Preston Crowe and I used to be thick as thieves. Back then, Cassidy had been an unpolished nobody, chasing after Preston relentlessly. Preston hadn't wanted anything to do with her, so to shake her off, he'd pushed her onto me.

He'd told me with a grin, "Arnold, Cassidy's a good one. Why don't you give her a try?"

I hadn't known anything about the history between the two of them at the time. I'd just assumed my best friend was setting me up with someone. And all those clumsy little gestures of affection from Cassidy, I'd thought they were meant for me.

It wasn't until Cassidy made her fortune that Preston started regretting it. I saw the text he sent her, begging for a second chance, and that was when I realized I'd only ended up with someone else's leftovers. Cassidy never said a word about it. Once I called him out on it, Preston fled the country and became the one Cassidy could never quite have, the ache she carried in her chest for years.

We arrived at the private room in the restaurant Cassidy had booked. The moment Preston saw me, he smiled like all that old history between us had never happened.

"Arnold, it's been a while. I heard you're divorcing Cassidy?"

He sighed. "And to think I was the one who got you two together. What a shame it didn't work out."

I looked at him and found the whole thing almost funny.

"A shame? That's thanks to you, isn't it?"

Preston's expression stiffened for a beat before he turned to Cassidy, playing the magnanimous one.

"Cassidy, is Arnold still blaming me for going abroad back then? Honestly, I only left so the two of you could be happy together..."

Cassidy frowned and shot me an impatient look.

"Arnold, it's Preston's first day back in the country. Don't put that bitter-husband face of yours on display."

Something clenched in my chest, but I couldn't even feel the pain of it anymore.

"If my face bothers you that much, I'll just leave."

I turned to go, but Preston suddenly caught my hand.

"Arnold, don't be upset. Let me pour you a drink, call it an apology..."

He shoved a glass into my hand. The instant I let go of it, he let out a startled cry. The glass shattered on the floor, and he stumbled backward.

"Preston!"

Cassidy's face went white. She rushed over and shoved me hard out of the way.

I fell from the force of it, catching myself with a hand full of broken glass. Pain shot through my palm. I gritted my teeth and stayed silent, my face draining of color.

"Arnold! How could you push Preston?"

Cassidy helped Preston up, then turned on me with a look vicious enough to eat me alive.

"I didn't push him!"

I braced myself against the table and stood up straight, my brow furrowed, cold sweat breaking out from the pain.

"I saw the whole thing!"

Fury overtook Cassidy, and she raised her hand.

The slap rang out crisp and loud, cutting through the private room. The whole space went quiet.

Even Cassidy seemed stunned for a second, the rage in her eyes freezing in place.

I slowly turned my head back, one side of my face burning.

"Cassidy, whatever's left between us is over for good."

I turned and walked out, spine straight, step by step.

Cassidy started to go after me, but Preston let out a pained grunt. He looked about to lose his footing, so she caught him instead and didn't follow.