Chapter 3

"I'm serious," I told him. "As soon as the road opens, I'm leaving."

Julian scoffed. "Fine. Go sulk until you're ready to act like an adult."

He returned to the fireplace and handed Chloe a mug of hot chocolate.

That morning, the lodge staff hung up an elaborate banner:

*HAPPY FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, JULIAN & EMMA—AND WELCOME TO THE TEAM, CHLOE!*

Chloe had arranged it. Mark laughed awkwardly and explained that she'd insisted on combining her official welcome celebration with our wedding anniversary. Julian glanced at the banner, saw Chloe's eager expression, and let it stay.

"She's just trying to be nice," he whispered to me. "Don't be difficult."

The cake was mango. I was allergic to mango. It was Chloe's favorite.

Someone called for an anniversary toast. Julian handed me a champagne flute.

"Happy anniversary."

I looked at the alcohol, then at him. He knew I hadn't been drinking lately. He hadn't asked why.

Chloe's eyes filled. "If you're upset about my name being on the banner, I'll tear my part off."

"Don't," Julian told her. Then he pushed the glass into my hand. "Emma. We're in front of everyone."

I tipped it onto the floor. A little splashed Chloe's shoes. She gasped.

Julian grabbed my wrist so hard I stumbled backward into the bar counter. Pain exploded through my lower back and stomach.

"What is your problem?" he demanded.

Mark tried to intervene. Our friends muttered that Chloe hadn't meant any harm.

I steadied myself against the counter. "Happy anniversary, Julian. I'll remember this one."

I carried the mango cake to the trash and dropped it in. When Julian ordered me to apologize to Chloe the next morning, I peeled his fingers away from my arm.

"You can apologize for yourself."

Back in the storage room, I swallowed my last prescribed tablets. The bleeding hadn't stopped. I texted him:

*Consider it over.*

He thought I meant the argument.

I meant us.