Chapter 1

Every word landed like a blow to the gut. Sheldon Graham's heart stopped, and his mind went blank.

"You're meeting a guy tomorrow? Then what am I to you?" he asked.

Caroline Reed, Sheldon's childhood friend, was already up and getting dressed.

At that, she glanced at Sheldon. "You? You're the guy I eat with, game with, and hook up with when we need to get off."

A chill spread through Sheldon as the color drained from his face, and his lips began to quiver.

Caroline's smile slowly faded as she studied his face. She leaned toward him, saying, "Wait. Don't tell me you actually thought we were dating all these years?"

Her tone was teasing, and it struck Sheldon like a knife. He fought down the burning in his nose, but his voice came out choked. "W-What? Of course not. I'm going to take a shower."

Then he scrambled to his feet and stumbled into the bathroom.

As soon as the door closed, the strength drained from his body, and he sank to the floor.

Caroline's words kept echoing in Sheldon's ears. He looked at the scratches covering his body, all of them left by her, and tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

They had known each other for over 20 years. They'd grown up together, drunk milk from the same glass, and read the same comic books.

When they were 18, they'd gotten drunk and ended up in bed together. After that first time, it happened again, and again.

In bed, they were always perfectly in sync. Outside the bedroom, they'd acted like a couple in every way that mattered. They'd held hands as they walked through crowded streets.

Every New Year's Eve, they'd kiss at midnight and promise each other they'd still be together the following year. They'd spent hours on the phone every day, keeping their connection alive.

Sheldon had always thought they were together. He'd just assumed they'd kept their relationship private. But now, Caroline was telling him they weren't even a couple.

The pain was so intense he could barely breathe. With trembling hands, he cranked the shower to full blast before finally letting himself break down.

When he finally ran out of tears, Sheldon had no idea how long he'd been in there. He finally managed to pull himself together and leave the bathroom.

By then, Caroline had changed and was sitting on the couch, talking on the phone.

"There'll be quite a few people tomorrow, so make sure we get a large private dining room. He prefers lighter fare, so just order something simple. Get a Black Forest cake and pink-and-white roses.

"Once the decorations are ready, send me photos so I can approve everything. Also, have a dozen or so gowns ready for me to choose when I get back. They all need to be black. Oliver only likes that color."

At the sound of the name, Sheldon felt a jolt of shock. He glanced at Caroline, only to find a sweet smile playing on her lips.

Oliver? So the man she was being set up with was Oliver Campbell?

Sheldon's expression darkened. If Oliver was the man Caroline was meeting, then he understood why she was so happy.

Back in high school, Caroline had a crush on Oliver. She talked about him constantly, bringing up his name dozens of times a day. But before she could tell him how she felt, he left the country.

Sheldon never heard Caroline mention Oliver again.

After they slept together that first time, Sheldon and Caroline grew closer. So, he'd assumed she'd long since gotten over Oliver.

He'd never realized that, despite never talking about Oliver again, she'd never truly forgotten him.

The ache in Sheldon's chest returned, sharper than before. He could barely hold on to his phone. It slipped from his fingers and hit the floor with a thud.

Hearing that, Caroline turned to him and smiled. "All done? You can check us out when you leave. I've already paid."

As she spoke, she picked up her coat and got to her feet, ready to leave.

At the door, Caroline glanced back at Sheldon. A faint, teasing smile played on her lips as she said, "Sheldon, I've always seen you as a friend.

"Don't look at me like your world just ended. Otherwise, I'll start thinking you've gotten the wrong idea about us."

She continued, "I know you too well, and we can practically read each other's minds. Wouldn't that get boring? If we actually dated, we'd have nothing left to figure out. It'd get old fast."

Her footsteps faded down the hallway, but her words stayed with Sheldon.

He sat on the empty bed and laughed until the laughter gave way to tears. So this was what Caroline had thought of him all along.

…

Sheldon sat alone until late that night, then finally went downstairs to check out.

It was pouring outside, but he barely noticed as he made his way home in a daze.

When his father, Lewis Graham, and his mother, Diana Adams, saw how drenched he was, they hurried to get him some towels.

"It's pouring out there! Why didn't you call a cab?" they asked, their voices laced with concern.

Sheldon looked at his parents, his expression blank and his eyes dull.

"Mom, Dad, you've wanted to move abroad for a while now, with all the changes at the company. I've thought it over. Let's do it. Let's leave and never come back," he said hoarsely.

Lewis and Diana had spent more than six months trying to talk Sheldon into moving abroad, so his sudden change of heart caught them off guard.

"You've really made up your mind? Did you break up with your girlfriend?"

Remembering what Caroline had said, Sheldon felt a pang of sadness and shook his head with a bitter smile.

"I don't have a girlfriend," he replied. "Never did. I made her up to keep you from pressuring me to get married."

Although they couldn't be sure he was telling the truth, Lewis and Diana were happy to hear Sheldon agree. They hurried off to start the paperwork for their move abroad while reminding him to pack his things.

Sheldon hummed in response and went back to his room, where he threw away everything that reminded him of Caroline.

The thick photo albums he'd carefully kept for more than a decade, the watches and clothes she had given him, and even the handmade figurines—all of it went straight to the trash.

"Mr. Sheldon, are you really throwing all of this away? Some of these things are so nice."

Sheldon caught the regret in the housekeeper's eyes. He nodded, his voice flat as he answered, "Yes. I don't want any of it."

He wasn't just throwing away the things she'd given him. He was letting go of their relationship and of Caroline herself.