Chapter 1

I'd been in a secret relationship with my childhood best friend Ethan for six years when he dumped me without warning.

A month later, my mom brought up gossip about him while taking jabs at me as usual.

"Ethan's about to be a father, and you still haven't even held a guy's hand."

"If I'd made you smarter or prettier, maybe he would've actually wanted you."

I scrolled through my work messages, barely paying attention.

"He's way out of my league anyway."

I remembered that day. Lying in a hospital bed with my leg in a cast, angry enough to end things.

He didn't try to stop me. Just let out a cold laugh.

"Whatever. I've got plenty of girls throwing themselves at me who are better than you anyway."

"Besides, who else are you gonna find without me?"

......

Hearing my self-deprecating comment, Ethan's mom Mrs. Harrison immediately brightened up.

"Don't say that! If you two could make it work, I'd be thrilled!"

"Ethan's always been so withdrawn. I've never heard him mention a girlfriend once."

Mrs. Harrison sat down next to me, carefully fishing for information.

"Maya, you two are close—has he ever talked to you about his girlfriend?"

I shook my head.

"We don't really keep in touch much."

Which wasn't exactly a lie.

After all, Ethan hadn't contacted me once in the month since we broke up.

Mrs. Harrison turned to my mom with a sigh.

"Daughters are so much easier. Sons are nothing but headaches."

"If I hadn't been looking through his phone photos the other day and accidentally seen that ultrasound picture, I wouldn't even know I'm about to be a grandmother."

My mom brought out a plate of strawberries and set them in front of Mrs. Harrison.

"Ethan's always been smart and capable. He knows what he's doing. Don't worry."

Mrs. Harrison's face lit up.

"Just the other day someone tried to set him up—apparently the girl's father is a state senator. Thank god I turned it down, or this would be awkward as hell."

I stared at my phone for a long moment, completely forgetting who I'd been about to message.

My mom suddenly kicked my foot.

"The doorbell's been ringing forever. Can't you get the door?"

I shuffled over in a daze.

Ethan stood outside, looking down at his phone, a slight smile on his lips.

Right before his screen went dark, I caught a glimpse of the pinned chat at the top—a pink profile picture.

"Here to pick up my mom."

Not that he needed to explain. I already knew he wasn't here for me.

I looked down, fumbling for slippers for him.

"I'm not coming in. Leaving in a second."

I looked up and met his cold stare.

For a moment, I felt completely lost.

The same person who'd whispered sweet things to me a month ago could barely look at me now without ice in his eyes.

I turned to go back inside. He suddenly grabbed my hand.

Shoved a paper bag at me.

"These absorb better. Take them with vitamin D."

Mrs. Harrison's voice drifted over. I yanked my hand back.

"Don't you have a flight assignment today? How do you have time to pick me up?"

He smoothly tucked the paper bag behind his back.

"Got canceled. Had nothing else to do, so I came to get you."

My mom came over too, chatting away as she walked Mrs. Harrison to the door.

Ethan stood to the side, quietly waiting for them to put on their shoes.

Mrs. Harrison suddenly noticed a pin on his bag.

She asked casually, "That's a unique pin."

"Old classmate gave it to me."

"A girl?"

"Yeah. She's a flight attendant for a private airline. Ran into her at the airport yesterday when we landed."

It clicked. That pinned chat with the pink profile picture—Michelle Shaw, our high school's queen bee.

Over the past six years, I'd given Ethan watches, wallets, ties.

He never used any of them.

Every time I asked, he'd say he couldn't bear to use them, wanted to save them.

But I knew the truth. He just didn't want anyone knowing he had a girlfriend.

Yet Michelle gave him a pin, and the very next day he'd clipped it to his bag.

How desperate was he to show off his new relationship?

Mrs. Harrison and my mom exchanged a meaningful look.

"It's good to stay in touch with old classmates! Tell her to come over for tea sometime!"

Ethan looked at me, something challenging in his eyes.

"What do you think?"

I crossed my arms, forcing my lips into something resembling a smile.

"I think it's great. She's gorgeous. You two look perfect together."

He froze. Something dark flickered across his face.