Chapter 2

I had severe stomach ulcers. I couldn't tolerate even the slightest bit of spice.

Four years ago, I accidentally ate a bite of chili sauce and ended up in the emergency room.

Harry had stayed with me all night. After that, he wouldn't even buy ketchup without checking the ingredients first.

He froze for a moment, as if he'd only just remembered. "It's already been ordered."

He poured me a glass of ice water and pushed it toward me. "Besides, the chili is what this place is known for. We can just get the mild version, but it won't be nearly as good. You can just have the plain tortilla. Anyway, eating it once in a while won't hurt."

Gemma looked stricken, her fork suspended in midair. "Oh, I forgot Maddison can't eat spicy food. Harry, why didn't you remind me? Should we change it? Otherwise Maddison won't be able to eat."

Harry sighed. "Why change it? It's already on the table."

He scooped some chili onto Gemma's plate. "She sat in coach for twenty hours to get here. She's not that delicate. Eat up."

I lowered my eyes and picked up a piece of broccoli, but the sight of the chili coating it made my stomach turn. I set it back down.

Gemma reached for the loaded fries, moving too forcefully and knocking the bowl of chili. Hot oil splashed out. It landed on the back of my hand, quickly raising a red burn.

At the same time, Gemma let out a soft cry. "Ow, that's hot."

Harry immediately grabbed Gemma's wrist and carefully wiped the barely visible red mark on the back of her hand.

His voice was tense. "How can you be so careless? Does it hurt?"

I sat across from them, watching the blister slowly rise on the back of my own hand. The steam from the hot food blurred my vision.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a new email.

"Ms. Maddison Richardson, your requested transfer to Westhaven has been approved. Please report for duty next Monday."

To end our three-year long-distance relationship, I'd stayed up countless nights and completed two nearly flawless proposals. That was what it had taken to earn this transfer.

Harry was still bent over Gemma's hand, blowing gently on it.

I stared at the word "Approved" on my screen, my fingertips slowly turning cold.

Then I submitted a request to cancel the transfer. The instant the page refreshed, I heard something inside me shatter.

After dinner, we walked out of the restaurant.

Harry went down to the underground garage to get the car. Gemma naturally opened the front passenger door and got in.

"Maddison, can you sit in the back? I get carsick, and the front seat is more comfortable."

Harry turned on the heated seat for her. "She just got off a flight. Give her the front."

I got into the back seat.

The aftermath of the rough train ride began to hit me. My lower back ached as though a blunt object were grinding against it over and over.

Gemma turned around excitedly. "Harry, I don't think this restaurant is as good as the place we went to in Cedar Falls last month."

A smile tugged at the corner of Harry's mouth. "That restaurant we went to in Cedar Falls last month had a Michelin star. How could this place compare? I'll take you somewhere even better next time."

Last month, I'd come down with a severe flu and a fever of 102.2 degrees. I went to the hospital alone in the middle of the night for an IV. I'd called him and asked if he could come see me.

His voice had been cold over the phone. "Maddison, I'm busy. Don't make me run back and forth. Just remember to hydrate well."

Gemma's light laughter filled the car.

I pressed a hand against my aching lower back and said nothing.

It wasn't that he didn't have time. He'd simply been saving his free time for someone else. Some explanations come a month too late to be worth asking for.

The car stopped outside Harry's apartment building.

Gemma pulled a key out of her bag and unlocked the door.

I stared at the key, stunned.

Harry paused while taking off his shoes and turned to look at me. "Why are you standing outside? Come in."

"How does she have a key to your place?"