Chapter 3

When Rowan showed up with breakfast, I was taking the engagement photo off the wall.

He steadied the frame.

“You don’t need to bring that. I have one at my place.”

I turned the frame face down and put it in the box.

“Still mad?” He handed me a coffee. “Lily was scared you’d really cut her off. She kept asking me what to do last night.”

“Scared of what?”

“That you won’t talk to her.”

“She’s not the one whose fiancé got swapped out in public.”

Rowan sighed.

“She likes to mess around. It’s not like this is news to you. You’re not going to hold it against her forever, are you?”

I looked at him.

“Before the dinner, did you know what she was going to do?”

“I had some idea.”

“How much?”

He set the coffee down.

“She asked me how to get a reaction out of you. I said the wedding was your weak spot, so that was the surest way in.”

The corner of the frame dug into my palm.

“Because I spent a year planning it?”

“Yeah.”

He answered fast.

“What’s the point of joking about something you don’t care about?”

I looked down at the photo.

On the day of the shoot, he was two hours late. I was afraid he’d be tired, so I didn’t even mention the extra set of photos I wanted.

“Did you know about all those other jokes, too?”

Rowan didn’t answer. Then Lily’s voice came from the doorway.

“Of course. He’s the one who told me you were wearing that white dress last year.”

“Lily.”

Rowan’s voice dropped.

She leaned against the doorframe.

“What? She’s asking, isn’t she?”

That time we went to Rowan’s parents’ house for dinner, I wore a dress I’d saved up two months to buy.

Lily drew a heart on the back with lipstick.

No one told me until I was already at the table.

Later, I hid in the bathroom. Rowan coaxed me through the door, saying Lily was too immature and that he’d protect me next time.

“You even helped me wipe it off that day.”

I looked at him.

“You said you didn’t know who did it.”

He avoided my eyes.

“I just didn’t want you two to fight.”

“So you watched her do it, then came to comfort me?”

“Claire, do you have to make it sound so ugly?”

Lily cut in.

“See? I told you she’d bring up old stuff.”

I put the last photo in the box.

“I won’t bring it up anymore.”

Rowan let out a breath and reached out to hug me.

“That’s better. I’ll reshoot the wedding photos with you. And stop going after Lily all the time.”

I pushed his hand away and handed the coffee back.

“Take it with you. I need to pack.”

He glanced at the suitcase.

“Let me know before you move in tomorrow. I’ll save you a parking spot.”

After they left, I called the wedding planner.

“Cancel everything—the venue, the photography, and the reception.”

She confirmed it again.

“You’ll lose part of the deposit if you cancel. Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

I’d always managed the wedding planning account. Rowan had signed the authorization once at the beginning and then couldn’t even be bothered to remember the password.

I submitted the cancellation forms and removed our couple registration from the account.

The page said the orders would be verified in twenty-four hours and cancellation confirmations would be sent to both parties.

I signed.

Then I put his spare key, supplementary card, and engagement ring into a paper bag.

There was a necklace by the desk.

Lily had returned it at some point. The silver clasp was bent out of shape.

I put it in a jewelry box by itself and packed it in my suitcase.

Her voice came from outside the door.

“We’re having barbecue tonight. Mom bought your favorite beef ribs.”

“Okay.”

“And no going out tomorrow night. I’ve got a new thing planned.”

She ran downstairs without waiting for my answer.

I sealed the paper bag and wrote Rowan’s name on it.

My phone lit up with a ticket reminder.

Ten a.m. tomorrow. Departure.