Chapter 1

I heard the front door unlock at 1:00 am.

Chase Harrington walked in carrying a box of cupcakes from a bakery on the south side of the city. When he saw me still sitting on the couch, he commented with a smile, "Why is the birthday girl still awake?"

He handed me the box of cupcakes before bending down to touch the corner of my eye.

"No way. You've been crying?"

"No."

"Why deny it?"

He crouched down and looked up at me. "I shouldn't have come back so late on your birthday. Next year, I'll handcuff myself to you the whole day, okay? I won't leave no matter who calls me. How about that?"

Chase had made similar promises countless times before. His words never did sound all that sincere, but each time, they still worked on me for some reason.

Six years ago, on our first date, he had waited in line for two hours to buy the tickets. It was raining when the movie ended, so he held his jacket over my head and let himself get soaked the entire way home.

He'd said to me, "From now on, I'll accompany you wherever you go."

The years kept adding up, but the promises started losing their hold on him.

I looked down at the cupcakes. They were still a little warm.

"How did you get this?"

"I spoke to the owner this afternoon and reserved a box." He raised an eyebrow smugly. "You really think your boyfriend forgets everything?"

My heart had just softened a little when Chase spotted the transaction records on my phone. He scrolled through the list of refunds I'd made and laughed.

"Doing your year-end accounts, boss?"

"Yeah."

"You're not happy with your cut?"

"You don't have to transfer the money to me anymore."

Chase lifted his eyes off the screen. "What do you mean by that?"

"Keep the money for yourself."

He stared at me for two seconds before abruptly pulling me into his arms. "So, you're feeling jealous."

I tried to get away, but he didn't let go.

"You should've just said so," he chided me. "Why are you bottling everything up and stewing in your emotions—it even looks like you're counting out my severance paycheck."

He kissed me on the forehead. "I won't let Winnie rent my services anymore."

At that very moment, his phone buzzed with a voice message from Winnie.

"Chase! Can I rent your services for another two hours tomorrow afternoon? I have to pick up the keys to my new rental. The landlord's a man, and I'm a little nervous about meeting him alone."

Chase responded to her right in front of me.

"I'm busy."

Winnie replied with a crying emoji. "Fine. What's the worst that could happen? I'll just let the landlord take advantage of me."

Chase set his phone down without answering. "See? I'm a man of principle."

My heart had hardened a little earlier, but once again, it softened like a hopeless sucker.

However, at 1:00 pm the next day, Chase headed for the door, saying, "I'm stepping out for a bit."

I looked up. "Where to?"

"To Winnie's place." The moment he saw my expression change, he immediately raised his hands. "Don't pounce on me just yet. The contract was changed at the last minute. She doesn't have a clue about any of this stuff, so I'm just going to check on things for her."

"Yesterday, you said you'd be busy."

"That was yesterday," Chase replied with a chuckle before pinching my cheek. "Besides, she's genuinely in a bind. I can't just stand back and watch, right?"

I jerked my head away from him. "How much is she paying you this time?"

"I won't be charging her for today."

"Why not?"

"Do friends charge each other for lending a hand?" Chase acted as if I'd asked a ridiculous question. "We shouldn't cheapen friendship by putting a monetary value on it."

I looked at him. Last night, he'd claimed that the money he got for his "services" proved he and Winnie were merely engaging in a business transaction.

Yet here he was today, saying that money would cheapen their friendship. It became clear to me that to him, boundaries were something he could redefine however he pleased.

Chase had already picked up his car keys. "Your friend's wedding is this evening, right? I'll be back before 6:00 pm, and I'll make sure to attend both the ceremony and the reception with you."

Before leaving, he kissed my forehead. "Don't look so sullen. You're different from Winnie."

I asked, "How am I different?"

"She's a friend. You're family to me," he declared.

Later on, I learned that being family to him meant I was the one he chose to let down over and over again.