Chapter 1

The fourth time Ryan takes me to the courthouse to get married, we barely reach the door when he and my best friend Stella suddenly stop moving.

I pull their arms as hard as I can, but neither of them moves an inch.

I know exactly what this is.

That stupid freeze game again.

No warning. Someone counts down, everybody freezes, and whoever stays still the longest wins.

When we went bungee jumping, we agreed all three of us would jump together, only for them to shove me off first and stand there without moving.

I'm terrified of heights.

By the time I climbed back up with shaking legs and asked why they did that, they still didn't react.

Then they finally said, "We were playing freeze. First one to move or talk loses."

When Ryan proposed, I shyly held out my hand, waiting for him to put the ring on me.

He froze.

My hand just hung there in the air.

People walking by started whispering. "Is she forcing him to propose or what?"

I cried until my makeup was ruined and turned to leave.

That's when he finally put the ring on my finger.

"God, you're such a crybaby. It was a joke."

Stella linked her arm through mine.

"Come on, Emma. How are you still not used to this?"

I thought I'd get used to it eventually.

But today, I remind them over and over before we leave.

Don't play the game today.

Not when we're supposed to sign the marriage papers.

They start anyway.

I'm so tired. I let go of their arms.

I'll never get used to this game.

I'm fucking done.

People passing by are whispering again.

"Why aren't they going in? Is something wrong?"

"She came in a veil and everything, but that man clearly doesn’t want to marry her."

"God, that’s embarrassing."

The voices are quiet but I hear every word.

Every word hurts.

I look at Ryan. "Ryan, I'm asking you one last time. Are we doing this today or not?"

He doesn't answer.

He does not even look at me.

I laugh at myself.

I already know the answer. I just have to humiliate myself one more time.

I let go of his hand and take two steps back.

Surprise flashes across Ryan's face.

But he still doesn't move.

"Play by yourselves. I'm done."

I turn and walk away.

No footsteps behind me.

The game isn't over, so they won't follow.

I go home alone. It takes over an hour.

No one calls. No one even texts to ask if I’m okay.

I accept the promotion to New York headquarters and start packing.

Everything I own barely fills half a suitcase.

When I first moved in here, I had three full boxes.

Then Stella suggested the freeze game.

The loser had to hand my things over to her.

From the necklace I saved three months of pay for, to the tiny wedding-vow card I rewrote ninety-nine times.

And finally, my mom's brooch. The one she left me before she died.

That day, I had a fever so bad I could barely stand. I begged Ryan to take me to the hospital.

He and Stella just stood there frozen.

I passed out before the game ended. He finally took me to the ER.

Then he gave Stella my mom's brooch because he lost.

I nearly got on my knees. "That's the only thing I have left from my mom. Please don't do this."

His voice was soft, but every word hurt.

"What do you want me to do? I lost fair and square. If you hadn't gotten sick, I wouldn't have lost."

There were so many other times. Too many to count.

I asked him once why they play the game but I'm the one who loses everything.

He said, "Because we're a couple."

I used to think that was sweet.

Now it makes me sick.

I'm putting the last of my clothes in the suitcase when the door finally opens.

Stella looks at my suitcase and scoffs.

"Seriously, Emma? Over one game? You're packing up and leaving?"

She nudges Ryan.

"Go make it up to her before she actually dumps you. Then you’ll be the one crying."

Ryan grabs my hand.

"Cut it out. I already got us another appointment with the county clerk Monday."

"We won't play this time. I promise."

Even now, he thinks I’m just making a scene.

They didn’t think it was making a scene when they humiliated me outside the courthouse.

But the second I want out, I’m the one making a scene.

I take a deep breath and swallow everything I'm feeling.

"Don't bother. We're done."

Surprise flashes across Ryan's face.

"Emma, be mad if you want, but don't start throwing around breakups."

I pull my hand back.

"I’m serious."

I look him straight in the eye.

"I’m done with your games. I’m done being your joke. We’re over."

I take off the matching ring and set it on the table.

Then I pull the creased wedding-vow card from behind my phone case and drop it in the trash.

The smile finally drops off Ryan's face.

"You were the one who wanted to get married, Emma. Don't come crying when you regret this."

"Even if you begged on your knees, I wouldn't take you back."

I shake my head. "I won't."

Stella jumps in.

"Emma, come on. It was a joke. Don't be so petty."

"Just wait until Monday, and you'll finally get what you wanted."

"But before that, he and I have to sign the papers to end our marriage first."