Chapter 2

The next afternoon, I went to Charity's place to pick up my things.

I'd left a lot of odds and ends there over the past three years, so it was a good time to clear it all out in one go.

The moment I pushed the door open, I heard Herbert laughing.

Charity was standing behind him, leaning down to knot his tie.

"Why aren't you wearing the one I gave you?"

Herbert touched the tie around his neck.

"That one's too expensive. I'm afraid I'll lose it."

Charity laughed.

"I gave it to you so you'd wear it. If you lose it, I'll just buy you another one."

Herbert was about to say something when he caught sight of me in the entryway out of the corner of his eye, and his voice stopped short.

"Spencer?"

"Don't get the wrong idea. Charity just picked up the necklace for me while she was on a business trip a few days ago."

She hummed, her tone offhand.

"He'd been going on about it for ages, and I happened to come across one."

I frowned.

"That business trip of yours—didn't you say you were too busy to even bring me back a gift?"

Charity's expression froze for a second.

I didn't ask about the necklace again, and turned to Herbert instead.

"What are you doing here?"

Herbert rubbed his nose.

"My phone died, and I happened to be passing by, so I came up to charge it for a bit."

I glanced at the phone on the coffee table.

"Isn't your place just in the complex next door?"

Before Herbert could speak, Charity jumped in first.

"Don't give him a hard time. I'm the one who asked him over."

"There's a company celebration dinner tonight, and I can bring someone. You don't like these kinds of events, so I asked Herbert to come with me."

The two of them started working out the evening's plans between themselves.

Standing there in the entryway, I suddenly remembered.

When Charity and I first started dating, Herbert actually rarely got involved in anything between us.

I was always afraid that once I was in a relationship, I'd neglect this friend I'd known for years.

So I'd invite him along to meals, and buy an extra ticket when we went to the movies.

At first, Charity wasn't happy about it.

"Why do you always bring him along on our dates?"

Back then I'd smile and throw an arm over Herbert's shoulder.

"He's my best friend. What's the harm?"

Later, Charity stopped complaining.

Later still, even when I said nothing, she'd be the one to ask whether Herbert was coming.

I don't know when it started.

The spot was one I'd made for him with my own hands.

And in the end, even I could barely find a place to stand.

Thinking about it, I suddenly lost any desire to keep asking.

"You two go ahead."

Charity looked up at me, seeming a little surprised.

My phone buzzed.

It was a message from Charity's mother.

"Spencer, remember to come back with Charity for dinner this weekend."

"Her dad says it's time we talked about the two of you getting married."