Chapter 1

My boyfriend Rick James and I had just stepped out of the mall when we ran into a blogger doing street interviews.

Rick, who normally kept everyone at arm's length, did something he never did and stopped walking.

The woman with the camera looked at me with a bright little smile.

"Excuse me, is that gift in your hand from your boyfriend?"

I nodded. Today was our third dating anniversary, and Rick had given me a handbag.

I was about to explain that I'd given him a gift too.

But she shoved her phone right up to my face and fired off one question after another, each one sharp and pointed.

"So would you call this kind of behavior being a gold digger?"

"Spending a man's money, doesn't that weigh on your conscience at all?"

"Living off a man like this, don't you feel any shame?"

My expression darkened at once, and I raised a hand to stop her recording.

"Show some respect. Don't make assumptions about me!"

But Rick stepped in front of her, frowning.

"Sabina, what are you getting so worked up about?"

"She's not wrong. Aren't I the one supporting you?"

My hand froze mid-motion, and I stared at Rick, unable to believe it.

Rick just turned around, smiling warmly at the blogger.

"Sabina, welcome back home!"

Sabina lowered her phone and threw herself into Rick's arms.

"Rick, I'm back!"

I watched Rick hold Sabina, that tender smile on his face, and all at once the whole thing felt utterly pointless.

1.

Rick let go of Sabina and introduced her to me, still smiling.

"This is Sabina Fox."

"She's just like this, loves to tease. Don't take it to heart."

Sabina gave me a little smile.

"So you're Rick's girlfriend?"

"I was only joking. You're not actually mad, are you?"

I looked up at Rick, fighting to hold down the hurt inside me.

"Rick, do you think that was funny?"

"I don't."

Rick's smile faded, and when he looked at me, his brow drew together without his meaning it to.

That was how he looked when he was losing patience.

"I already said it was a joke. Dani, you're not the type to nitpick over every little thing."

I've always had an even temper. In all my time with Rick, the two of us had almost never had a cross word.

But the sight of that hug was too much to look at, and my chest ached, dull and heavy.

"Rick, none of those things were funny. They were ugly to hear."

Rick started to say something more, but Sabina pouted and tugged at his sleeve.

"Never mind. Don't get upset over me."

Rick bent his head and ruffled Sabina's hair with a smile.

"All right. Whatever you say."

And with that, the two of them walked off toward the parking lot side by side, talking and laughing.

I stood where I was, unable to come back to myself for a long time.

Rick had always been cold, and apart from me there were rarely any other women around him.

Even after three years together, he'd always held himself in check, hardly ever this affectionate with me in public.

Yet with Sabina he not only hugged her, he ruffled her hair like they were close.

So natural about it, as if he'd done it countless times before.

It was a while before Rick noticed I hadn't followed.

He sighed, came back toward me, and there was impatience in his voice.

"Dani, you're not this petty. This is a small thing."

He lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch.

"We still have to go to the old house tonight. My mom's waiting for us for dinner."

"I'll drop Sabina off first. Cool down, then grab a cab over."

And with that, he walked back to Sabina without a backward glance.

Inside the car, Sabina sat in the passenger seat while Rick leaned over from the side, carefully fastening her seat belt for her.

Sabina looked over at me, the corner of her mouth curving up, full of challenge.

Without thinking, I clenched my hands, my chest crushed under something like a boulder, unable to breathe.