Chapter 1

After spending half a year on exchange in London,my boyfriend and my best friend came to pick me up at JFK.

Ethan had always been so conservative he would not even loosen the collar of his shirt,yet now there was a black stud in his ear.

I reached out without thinking,wanting to touch it.

He turned his head away on instinct.

"Don't touch it."

My best friend Ava laughed and threw herself into my arms,then turned and gave him a gentle glare.

"Ethan,didn't I teach you?Don't be so cold."

As soon as she finished speaking,Ethan actually lowered his head and offered his ear to me.

I froze for a few seconds,until something hard pressed against my collarbone.

I looked down.It was Ava's earring.

Exactly the same as the one in Ethan's ear.

Ava straightened and asked,"Molly,are you leaving again this time?"

I suddenly smiled,"No."

Perfect.Then I would not have to turn down the engagement my mother had mentioned.

...

Ava linked her arm through mine affectionately.

"That's great.Otherwise Ethan would miss you and still pretend nothing was wrong."

Ethan frowned slightly,his voice cool.

"I wouldn't."

Ava let go of me and raised her hand as if to smack his shoulder.

"You still deny it?Didn't you promise me last night you would learn to say what you really feel?"

Ethan gave a low"Mm,"then reached out and caught Ava just as she nearly stepped on the wheel of my suitcase.

"Careful.You promised me something too."

"Only if you behave first."

Ava stuck her tongue out at him,pretty and playful,with the ease of someone used to being spoiled by him.

A faint smile passed through Ethan's eyes.

I stood there,feeling as if a sheet of clear glass had fallen between me and them.

All at once,I felt like someone peeking at a happiness that belonged to other people.

This was an Ethan I had never seen before.

He followed rules almost to the point of rigidity.

His shirts were always pressed without a single crease,his top button always fastened.

Even his kisses were restrained,just a light touch before he pulled away.

But now he had not only pierced his ear.He had learned how to admit he was wrong.

Ava waved a hand in front of my face.

"What are you thinking about?Don't worry.I've trained your iceberg boyfriend into a decent boyfriend.He's ready for pickup."

I suddenly laughed,my voice turning cold.

"So is he your boyfriend now,or mine?"

Ava's smile stiffened.

"Molly,that's not what I meant.I just wanted Ethan to be more open with you."

Ethan frowned."Molly Harper,do you have to come back and start attacking people right away?"

Suddenly,I felt tired of all of it.

The dozen-hour flight was exhausting.

So were the past three years.

I waved a hand and cut him off."Forget I said anything."

I dragged my suitcase forward by myself and opened the passenger door.

On the dashboard lay an uncapped lip gloss,a dusty rose shade I would never wear in my life.

I shut the door with a snap and got into the back seat.

Ava walked over,her tone perfectly natural.

"Molly,why are you sitting in the back?Don't you get carsick?"

"It's fine.It's not far."

Ava said nothing more and slid easily into the passenger seat.

She turned back to look at me,the black diamond on her earlobe flashing clearly under the car lights.

"We're taking you to an amazing Mexican place.Even someone as picky as Ethan says it's not bad."

I did not answer.I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep.

The moment we walked into the restaurant,the manager recognized them.

"The window table again?The usual?You brought someone else today.A friend?"

I glanced at Ethan."I'm his girlfriend."

The manager froze for a second,then immediately swallowed whatever he had been about to say and led us to a table with an awkward smile.

Before long,a table full of heavily seasoned Mexican dishes was set down,the smell of chilies and spices rushing up at me.

My stomach turned.

Ava kept putting food on my plate.

Ethan suddenly said,"Eat your own food.She's an adult.She doesn't need you taking care of her like that."

After saying that,he pushed the steak he had already cut on his own plate over to Ava.

Ava smiled until her eyes curved."Fine.I'll listen to you."

I said nothing.I only kept dipping the food on my plate into water again and again.

Ethan's fork stopped in midair.His throat moved once.

"Do you want me to get you a soup that isn't spicy?"

Ava suddenly looked up."Right,I almost forgot.Molly can't eat spicy food."

The manager apologized."The kitchen is slammed tonight,and the soup base is already sold out.I'm afraid we can't change it."

Just then,my phone rang.

I turned and walked outside.

My mother's voice was sour.

"You went to your boyfriend the second you got off the plane,didn't you?When are you going to remember to come see me?"

"Mom,about the engagement you mentioned last time.Don't cancel it."

"I thought you said you didn't want to consider it..."

Through the glass,I looked back inside.

Ethan's face was still cool,but his attention stayed on Ava.

He picked out the food she liked and brushed away the hair that almost fell into her plate.

"Not anymore,Mom."