Chapter 2

When I got back to my dorm, my roommate Riley Brooks came over. “Danielle, are you really moving out?”

I froze for a moment. In my last life, I’d rented a place near work to shorten my commute. Not long after that, I’d dropped out.

Luke hadn’t gone home over summer break because he wanted to save on travel expenses. We’d spent two months crammed into that tiny rental. Once he left for grad school, I stayed behind in the city, working until I was exhausted every day.

I snapped out of it and smiled at Riley. “Of course not!”

Riley let out a relieved breath. “You scared me! I really thought you were going to put yourself through all that for him!”

Riley and I had always been close. She’d often told me to stop making Luke the center of my world, but I’d never listened.

A knock interrupted my thoughts. I opened the door and found my aunt Vanessa standing outside.

She walked in carrying a big bag. “Danielle, look what I brought you!”

I looked through the plastic bag. Everything in it was used. The clothes were old and dirty, and the snacks were things she didn’t like that were about to expire.

My mother had died when I was nine. After Dad remarried, he moved overseas. Our only contact was his yearly transfer for my tuition and living expenses. Vanessa supposedly stayed behind to look after me, but in reality, she’d conned him out of plenty of money.

I hadn’t learned any of that until later. Back then, I’d foolishly believed Vanessa really cared about me. Even though she only gave me things she didn’t want, and often took her anger out on me, I’d thought she and Luke were the only people in the world who cared whether I lived or died.

“I know you don’t like asking your dad for extra money, but is what he sends really enough? I bought you some clothes and snacks. Don’t neglect yourself!” Vanessa took my hand.

I pulled it away and smiled. “Don’t worry, Vanessa. I won’t neglect myself. But what about you? You’re thirty. Aren’t you going to find a boyfriend? Grandma’s getting pretty anxious!”

Vanessa smoothed her hair. “I don’t need a boyfriend. I like my life the way it is. If I get the chance, I’d like to study abroad!”

My smile slowly faded. All I could see was her and Luke sneaking around behind my back. My hands curled into fists. Then I tossed the plastic bag onto the floor. Why should I keep accepting her castoffs?

“If I’m not mistaken, these are all things you don’t want, right? Personally, I don’t like taking other people’s used things. Any of them.” My gaze hardened.

Vanessa looked embarrassed. “Danielle, I just bought these! How could they be things I don’t want? What kind of person do you think I am?”

I turned my head away. “I don’t need them. Take them home and use them yourself. I have things to do, so I can’t keep you company.”

Vanessa’s face darkened. With Riley there, she held back from laying into me. Instead, she grabbed her things and stormed out.

But I knew she wouldn’t let today’s humiliation slide.

Before I could even sit down, Luke called. He apologized over and over, then invited me to dinner at a restaurant near campus.

I thought for a moment, then agreed with a smile. Afterward, I texted Vanessa and invited her to dinner, saying it was my way of apologizing for today.

Sure enough, she came. From a corner, I watched every move she and Luke made. Just as I’d suspected, they already knew each other.

In my last life, I’d stupidly brought Luke home to introduce him to Vanessa. Looking back at the lingering looks they’d exchanged, something had clearly been going on between them already.

Watching them flirt made me sick!