Chapter 1

The sixth time Ava broke up with me during an argument, I didn't come crawling back.

I moved out, changed my contact information, and relocated to another city.

Six months later, I opened the door to a private dining room and found her surrounded by our old friends.

Ava smiled, as if she'd been expecting me all along.

"So we're finally done with the silent treatment?"

She reached for my hand. I stepped away.

"It's been half a year, Noah. Are you seriously still mad?"

I looked down at my wedding ring.

"Sorry," I said. "I'm here to pick up my wife."

Ava laughed. "You expect me to believe you got married in six months?"

"Why wouldn't I? You always said if we didn't speak for three days, we were broken up. It's been six months."

She stepped aside theatrically.

"Fine. Which woman in this room is your wife? I'd love to meet her."

Her friends burst out laughing. Mason, the younger coworker she'd spent our five-year relationship defending, stood at the center of the table.

"Noah, man," he said, "you really came all the way here to get Ava back? You don't need to make up a wife."

The others joined in. Everyone knew I'd spent years apologizing first after every fight.

The sixth argument had been over Mason.

Ava had given him access to the smart lock on our home, registering his face without asking me. She'd even changed the custom entry greeting from *Welcome home, Noah* to *Welcome to your new home, Mason.*

She said Mason's lease had ended and he needed somewhere to stay for a few days. When I objected, she snapped, "Then we're done," and left with him.

I later saw an Instagram Story showing the two of them at the other apartment Ava kept for herself.

That night, for the first time in five years, I didn't follow her.

Now she was acting as if all I'd done was take a longer-than-usual break.

"I'm not here for a reconciliation," I told the room. "I am married."

Ava's smile finally began to fade.