Chapter 3

My father spent his whole life in business, and no one read people better than he did.

Long ago, back when Cole first "lost his memory" and started treating Nellie Henson as his girlfriend, he told me Cole's heart had turned.

He told me to leave him.

Back then I refused to believe Cole would betray me. I would rather run away from home in a fit of temper than give him up.

Over the years, he lost his memory countless times, and countless times I made a scene about it.

It wasn't until I heard that conversation tonight that I finally saw it.

From beginning to end, the only one who stayed in place was me.

After I hung up the phone, I didn't go back. I checked into a hotel and spent the night there.

Early the next morning, I went to the apartment complex where Cole and I used to live.

The moment I opened the door, my mind went blank.

Clothes were strewn all over the floor in a tangled heap.

The furniture sat crooked and shoved out of place.

The smell that hit me made my stomach turn.

A sharp, pulsing ache twisted in my chest, and I gagged so hard it felt like I might bring up everything from the night before.

I stood in the doorway a long while, steadying myself, before I finally found the courage to walk in.

The room was pitch dark, the floor sticky with damp patches everywhere.

I kept my eyes straight ahead, dragged out my suitcase, and stuffed all my clothes into it in a messy rush.

The sound of the closet door woke the two of them from their sleep.

When Nellie Henson saw it was me, she let out a shriek.

Then she scrambled up, trembling, and hurried to pull her clothes on.

"Lindy, I— it's not what you think—"

Panic flickered across Cole's eyes too, quick as a flash.

Then he remembered his "amnesia," and just as quickly composed himself.

"What are you doing here? Can't you see we're resting? Don't you understand privacy?"

Seeing me pack my clothes without so much as a glance at them, Nellie's eyes went red at once.

"Lindy, I'm sorry, don't shut me out."

"I didn't mean for it to happen. We were drunk last night, neither of us knew what we were doing."

Her voice cracked with tears, as if the one in the wrong were me.

Once I had all my clothes packed, I simply stood up.

My gaze settled on them, calm.

"Cole, is faking amnesia fun?"

"All these years, the two of you used that amnesia as cover to do everything intimate right in front of me. Quite a thrill, wasn't it?"

Cole's expression darkened. I drew a deep breath and just laid it all out.

"My father was right. From the moment you 'lost your memory,' this relationship of ours was already rotten to the core. I was too foolish, that's why the two of you had me running in circles."

"Nellie Henson, since you schemed so hard to get your hands on him, then he's my gift to you."

With that, I zipped up my suitcase, turned, and started for the door.

Cole grabbed my wrist like a madman.

"It's the crack of dawn. What are you throwing a fit about now?"

I gave a self-mocking little laugh.

"Then let's just say I'm throwing a fit."

I didn't feel like saying anything more. I picked up the suitcase and moved to leave.

But Cole gripped my wrist tight and wouldn't let go.

His face turned vicious in an instant.

"Lindsay Swanson, this is some new trick of yours, isn't it? Gotten clever, have you, learned to retreat to get the upper hand?"

"Too bad. Nellie and I are getting married. I don't have time to play your games."

He turned, picked up the invitation from the nightstand, and held it out in front of me.

"One week from now is our wedding day."

"You're Nellie's friend. I'll be generous and invite you to be a bridesmaid."

The big red double-happiness character was like a wall of flame, searing until my throat clenched shut.

Ten years with Cole, and I had dreamed of getting married.

Yet now his name was bound to Nellie Henson's, and here it was, handed to me.

I let out a laugh, and inside it felt as if some nameless shackle had come loose.

A wave of lightness washed over me.

It didn't matter. None of it mattered.

I lifted my head and pushed the invitation back into his hand.

At last, I let it go.

"I won't be coming. Because that same day happens to be my own wedding day."

"Congratulations to you both, in advance."