Chapter 3

When I wake up, Grant is already home, standing over the bed with a scowl.

"Why didn't you answer my texts last night?"

"I fell asleep."

He studies me for a few seconds, then lets it go.

"Get dressed. I'm taking you to the amusement park."

I start to say no. He's already grabbed one of my jackets and is steering me toward the door.

I don't realize Paige is coming until I open the car door. She's sitting in the passenger seat, the one Grant always saved for me.

She looks surprised to see me. "Tessa? You're coming too? I get carsick, so Grant let me sit up front."

That used to be my seat. Grant once swore nobody else would ever sit there.

"Paige wanted to go to the amusement park," he says. "It's just a day out. The more the merrier."

His voice is easy, but his eyes stay locked on my face, waiting for me to blow up. He's already working out how to smooth it over.

I give him nothing. I open the back door and slide in.

Grant stands there, thrown.

The whole drive, he complains about what a pain Paige is, while everything he does says otherwise.

"The sun's too bright," Paige mutters, just once.

Grant flips down the sun visor.

"It's freezing in here."

He bumps the temperature up without a word.

At the park, he comes back with three drinks. Paige takes the iced tea and stares at him.

"You remembered I like this?"

"You mentioned it once. If I'm your fake boyfriend, I should know the basics."

The corner of her mouth twitches up.

Grant holds out the third drink to me. Peach iced tea.

I don't take it. He frowns. "Tess? Isn't this your favorite?"

It used to be. Then I got sick and ended up with a serious peach allergy.

The last time I had some by accident, I broke out in hives from head to toe, and Grant was the one who raced me to the ER, white as a sheet.

Now he doesn't even remember.

"Not thirsty. You two enjoy."

Grant shoves it into my hand anyway. "You'll get thirsty sooner or later. Just take it."

They drag me to the roller coaster next.

A ride attendant beams at Paige and Grant.

"You two a couple? Couples can do the challenge and win a souvenir pin!"

"Who said we're a couple?" Paige snaps.

She eyes the roller coaster. "Then again... that actually sounds kind of fun."

Grant turns to me and lowers his voice. "We won't be long. Wait here, okay? Don't wander off."

The attendant waves them into the couples' line, and they walk off together.

I set the peach iced tea on a bench, turn around, and head for the park gate.

I'm barely past the gate when my phone starts buzzing.

[I told you to wait. Why did you leave?]

[Stop being dramatic. Send me your location, I'll come get you.]

I don't answer. Back at the apartment, I start packing.

That evening, a new post from Paige pops up.

Grant crouched in front of her, tying her shoelace. Matching souvenir headbands. Fireworks going off behind them.

The caption: Plot twist: he doesn't want our fake dating to end.

I stare at it. A few minutes later I refresh, and it's gone.

That's when the front door unlocks. Grant walks in, already annoyed.

"Why'd you bail? I texted you. You didn't answer."

I don't bother explaining. I keep folding clothes.

"Paige's place is getting renovated this week," he goes on.

"She needs somewhere to stay for a few days, and I told her she could crash here. She'll take the guest room. It's not going to affect you."

I zip the suitcase. "Fine."

His face shifts. He steps in front of me. "I just said she's in the guest room. So why are you packing?"

I look up at him. "She's your girlfriend. And you're not exactly dying to break up with her, are you?"

He goes still. "You saw that post?"

"Yeah."

"Paige was joking. I made her delete it." His frown deepens.

"We're pretending. That's it. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

Making a big deal out of it.

He acted like I was nobody in front of everyone. He handed her my cashmere wrap. He left me standing on the curb at midnight.

And today he forgot I'm allergic to peaches. Apparently I'm the one making a big deal.

"Grant." I look him dead in the eye.

"You can stop loving me because I got sick. You can be embarrassed by me because I put on weight. You can even decide the 270-pound me isn't what you want anymore."

"But you don't get to hurt me and then expect me to smile and act like nothing happened!"

His jaw tightens. "When did I stop loving you? Seriously, Tess? You're going to throw away three years over a few bad days?"

I slap him.

The sound echoes through the living room. His head snaps sideways, and for once he has nothing to say.

"This isn't a tantrum."

I pick up my suitcase and meet his eyes.

"We're done."

He whips his head around.

"What?" Grant opens his mouth to say more.

I don't wait to hear it. I walk out.

The door slams behind me. Three years. Over just like that.