Chapter 4

"What nonsense!" Liam snapped at Mia, then turned to me with that helpless look plastered across his face.

"Bree, we're about to go through security now, and canceling the tickets would cost way too much in fees."

He let out a sigh and reached for my suitcase. "Tell you what—look up the next flight to the mountains on your phone right now and grab a ticket. Mia and I will fly ahead, get to the hotel, and have the room ready for you. Sound good?"

Watching his performance, I found it so absurd that I didn't even have the energy to be angry anymore.

"Don't bother." I pulled my suitcase back, out of his reach, and said two cold words.

Liam blinked. "What do you mean, don't bother?"

The boarding announcement crackled over the intercom.

Liam started fidgeting, glancing between the gate and me. "Bree, don't be like this. Come on, be a good girl—just book the next flight. I'll buy you ice cream when you get there, I promise."

With that, terrified of missing the plane, he grabbed Mia's wrist. "Mia, come on—we're going to be late."

Mia glanced back at me, a flash of hidden triumph in her eyes, though her face wore a mask of regret.

"Bree, I'm so sorry. I'll give him an earful on the plane for you, I promise! We'll be waiting for you in the mountains!"

I thought I'd do what I always did—stand there crying, feeling wronged, or stubbornly buy the next ticket and chase after them.

But I just stood there, watching them scramble away from me, practically racing toward the security line, and felt absolutely nothing.

I turned, walked out of the terminal, hailed a cab, and went straight home.

Over the next few days, my phone blew up with messages from Liam.

At first, accusations: [Bree, what is your problem? The next flight landed hours ago—where are you?]

Then came the apologies: [Baby, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you at the airport. Please just come, okay? Even Mia says it's not fun without you.]

Finally, petulance and anger: [Bree, enough is enough! I always have to chase after you. Fine—don't come. But don't come crying to me later!]

I read every single one, didn't reply to a single one, and put him on mute.

The day SAT scores came out and college applications were due, the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find Liam standing there with a bouquet of red roses.

He shoved the flowers into my arms, a smug smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Bree, you over it yet? I gave you two weeks of silence—that should've taught you a lesson.

"Your score should be good enough for that local community college I sent you. And since you left that test blank for me, I'll be the bigger person and forgive you for acting out like that.

"Just submit your application already, and the three of us can stay together."

He walked into the living room like he owned the place, chattering away, "You have no idea how amazing the mountains were—too bad you missed it.

"Mia had such a great time. She said the barbecue there was incredible. She even bought this really pretty dress..."

Every other word out of his mouth was Mia's name.

I stared at his endless, yapping mouth and felt nothing but disgust.

"Liam." I cut him off coldly. "Honestly? I think you two are perfect for each other."

Liam stopped mid-sentence. Panic flickered across his face. "Bree, don't say stuff like that—you're just upset! We're supposed to get married!"

Then he gave me that disapproving look. "And if Mia hears you talking like that, she'll start keeping her distance again, and then nobody's happy."

"Really?" I held his gaze, each word sharp and deliberate. "Because the distance between you two at that motel the day the SATs ended? It was negative."

The moment the words left my mouth, his entire body went rigid.