Chapter 2

Panic finally struck Chloe. She sprinted after me, grabbed my jacket, and canceled Julian’s ticket right in front of me on her phone.

She thrust her phone into my face, desperate to prove her remorse.

A short distance away, Julian stood watching us with red, tearful eyes.

I stared into Chloe’s eyes and warned her coldly that this was her final strike.

Shaking off her grip, I marched straight through security.

Once aboard the plane, I pulled down my eye mask, ready to sleep through the flight.

Before long, the soft clicking of phone keys sounded beside me.

I lifted my mask and glanced sideways.

She was typing furiously in a SnapChat thread labeled "Pumpkin."

Don't be sad. It's all my fault.

A chill ran down my spine.

Sensing my eyes on her, she scrambled to hide her screen.

"Who are you texting?" I asked coldly.

"No one. Just a client," she replied, avoiding my eyes.

I let out a dry laugh. "A client named 'Pumpkin'?"

Her face drained of all color.

"Babe, don't get the wrong idea. I’m just terrified he might do something reckless to himself."

"If he wants to do something reckless, are you going to jump off a bridge with him?"

My voice carried, and several passengers in the front row turned around to stare.

"Keep your voice down," she hissed, her embarrassment instantly morphing into irritation.

"We finally get away on our honeymoon, can you stop bringing him up every five seconds?"

"Am I the one bringing him up, or are you the one who can't let him go?" I fired back.

She scowled.

"He is just a friend! A friend I grew up with! Why can’t you ever just trust me?"

"Can't you be a little more mature for once?"

There it was again. That exact phrase.

I shut my eyes, unwilling to waste another breath on her.

When our flight landed, the resort shuttle was waiting at the curb.

She tried to take my hand, but I yanked it away.

The van door slid open. Just as I was about to step inside, I froze.

Julian was sitting in the back row, grinning smugly at me.

Next to him sat Chloe’s two childhood bros, Troy and Liam.

"Hey Ethan, what a coincidence!"

I whipped my head around, glaring murderously at Chloe.

Her expression turned visibly guilty.

Julian hopped out of the van and casually wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Ethan, Chloe actually told me to come on the side! She said the more the merrier, and that you'd love it."

"You’re way too petty, man. Chloe still cares about me the most."

"Julian, shut up!" Chloe stammered in complete panic.

From inside the van, Troy hollered out, "Come on, Chloe, why play dumb? You literally Venmoed us the cash for our flights!"

Staring at Chloe’s pale, caught-in-the-act face, a cold laugh escaped my lips.

What a brilliant performance back at the airport.

Once at the resort, she followed me into our suite, spewing frantic excuses.

"They insisted on crashing! Troy asked to borrow money from me, I swear I had no clue Julian was tagging along!"

I stood there quietly, watching her pathetic act.

"Finished?"

She froze.

"If you're done, get the hell out," I said, pointing toward the door.

Using every ounce of strength I had, I shoved her out into the hallway.

I slammed the door and locked it tight.

Outside, Julian and the others murmured fake comfort while Chloe banged continuously against the wood.

I blocked out the noise completely.

Two hours later.

I changed into fresh clothes, planning to step out for some fresh air.

The moment I swung the door open, I stopped.

Chloe was standing right there.

And Julian, shirtless and wearing tiny, tight swim trunks, was practically rubbing his bare chest against her.

"Chloe, let's go for a night swim! Just like back in college!"

He threw a mocking, provocative smirk in my direction.

Chloe looked torn, averting her eyes. "Ethan is..."

"Oh, come on! Ethan is a big boy, he’s totally cool with it. Right, Ethan?" He beamed.

I stepped forward until I was standing inches from Chloe, looking dead into her eyes.

"Are you going?"

"Babe, I just want to help him blow off some steam..." she babbled defensively.

"If you take one step away from this room with him, we are completely, irreversibly done."

Chloe immediately shoved Julian back and blurted, "I'm not going."

Julian stumbled backward from the push, staring at her in disbelief.

He shot me a tearful, wounded glare before running off down the hall.