Chapter 1

The proctor entered the classroom and instructed everyone to turn in their phones.

Numbly, I powered mine off and slipped it into the storage pouch at the front of the room.

When I returned to my seat, the exam papers were handed out. Rows of black text filled the pages, but I couldn't focus on a single word.

My mind kept replaying those messages.

Just last night, Winona Lane, my girlfriend, had held my hand and looked at me with unmistakable affection.

"Hector, I feel awful today. There's no way I'm getting into a top university."

She had looked me straight in the eyes before continuing, "Could you ruin your exam tomorrow? That way, you, me, and Benjamin can all stay here and attend the local state university together. We'll never have to be apart."

Then she added, almost like a promise, "If you stay here and go to the local state university with me, I swear I'll spend the rest of my life loving only you."

At the time, I thought her request was ridiculous. But after more than ten years together, I couldn't bring myself to say no.

For her, I was willing to give up the school I'd dreamed of attending. I was willing to sacrifice my future just to stay by her side.

But now, those messages were telling me something I had never imagined.

Winona had failed her math exam because of Benjamin.

And suddenly, I couldn't tell which hurt more—the future I'd been willing to give up for her, or the reason she'd asked me to give it up in the first place.

Benjamin Scott was my best friend. He was tall and skinny, easygoing and carefree, and absolutely terrible at school.

Winona was always telling me that his family was struggling financially, that he'd had a rough life, and that I needed to look out for him.

But now, for the first time, I couldn't help but wonder if the two of them had been hiding something from me all along.

"The exam has begun. Please manage your time carefully."

The proctor's voice snapped me back to reality.

I looked at the screen, my mind racing.

If I ruined my exam, I would be giving Winona exactly what she wanted. I'd stay behind and attend a local state university with her. We'd be together, just like she'd asked.

What if those messages were fake?

If I scored well and everything turned out to be a misunderstanding, the worst that could happen was that I'd have to apologize to Winona.

But what if they were true? Was I really willing to throw away all the hard work for a woman who had betrayed me?

No. That was my answer.

I took a deep breath. My expression hardened, and my hand steadied.

I gave the exam everything I had.

The answers I had planned to leave completely blank quickly filled from top to bottom.

I answered every question without hesitation.

Finally, the bell rang across campus. The exam was over.

Cheers erupted outside the building. Some students tore up their textbooks and threw the pages into the air. Others hugged each other, laughing and crying after months of pressure.

I retrieved my phone. The moment I turned it on, two messages appeared, one right after the other.

The first was from Winona.

"Babe, how did it go? My mom decided to take me back to my hometown to visit my grandma, so I can't celebrate with you and Benjamin tonight. XOXO! I'll make it up to you next time!"

I stared at the message for a moment.

Then I opened the second one. It was from Benjamin.

"Hector, my stomach is killing me. I think my gastritis is acting up again, so I went home to lie down. We were supposed to celebrate with barbecue tonight, too. Ugh. You and Winona go ahead without me. Don't worry about me."

I read both messages again, my grip tightening around the phone.

Something about them felt wrong. They were both giving me a reason why they couldn't meet me tonight.

And according to those messages from my future self, I already knew exactly where they were supposed to be.

If it hadn't been for that mysterious text message, I probably would have gone straight to the pharmacy to pick up some medicine for Benjamin. After that, I would have checked on Winona and reminded her to be careful on her way home.

Instead, I slipped away from the celebrating students and left the school grounds alone.

I headed toward the street behind the school. The wind rushed past my ears as I walked faster and faster.

My heart hammered in my chest, but beneath the panic was a cold determination.

I had to know the truth. I had to see it for myself.

The hallway of the budget motel reeked of cheap air freshener. The worn carpet muffled my footsteps as I made my way down the dim corridor.

Following the directions from the mysterious messages, I stopped in front of a room.

There were voices coming from inside, and I recognized them.