Chapter 1

At a college reunion party, someone suggested playing a game of "Who Knows Who Best?"

I drew my ex-boyfriend, Carter Evans.

I looked at the twenty-one questions on the slip of paper and answered them one by one.

His favorite food.

His favorite music.

His favorite color.

The age of his first sexual encounter.

......

Then, someone in the crowd started teasing:

"Sera, how do you know Carter so well? Don't tell me you even know his cock size."

I kept my face completely expressionless and said:

"8.5 inches."

The room instantly erupted:

"Seriously? Carter is that blessed? Let me see!"

"Wait, didn't Sera and Carter date before?"

"But isn't the girl Carter likes Mia Hayes?"

Carter took a sip of his beer, his voice completely flat. "Stop talking nonsense, guys. Sera and I are just childhood neighbors. We grew up together, so she just knows me well."

I smiled and chimed in, "Yeah, we're just neighbors."

Turns out, time really does heal all wounds.

When I said those words, I realized I truly did view him as nothing more than a next-door neighbor.

Halfway through the party, the gossip didn't stop.

Someone smiled and asked, "Sera, you've been in London for the past two years, so you probably don't know yet—Carter and Mia are officially dating now."

Another girl chimed in:

"Oh yeah, they're so clingy. I literally saw Mia feeding Carter ice cream on campus."

Mia sat right next to Carter, her cheeks flushing a light pink.

"Stop teasing us, guys."

Despite her words, she leaned her head onto Carter's shoulder.

The other girl laughed:

"No normal friends are that intimate. They're definitely friends with benefits."

Carter didn't deny it. Instead, his hand gently tightened around Mia's waist.

I lowered my eyes, my heart as still as dead water.

Two years ago, I would have stayed up all night crying just because they had lunch together.

I would have scrolled through my Snapchat chat history with Carter over and over, desperately trying to figure out why he picked her up in person, why he protected her in front of everyone, yet refused to ever admit I was his girlfriend.

Now, looking back, it all felt so pathetic.

Mia suddenly stood up, holding a glass of wine, and walked over to me.

"Sera, about the research fellowship back then... I really didn't mean to steal your spot..."

I stared at the silver ring on her ring finger, and my mind suddenly flashed back to the summer after we took our SATs.

Carter had taken me to a silver workshop. He spent hours hunching over the table, his knuckles rubbed raw.

I asked him what he was making.

He said they were promise rings.

"Who wants to wear a promise ring with you?"

"Fine, suit yourself."

Even though he said that, once he finished, he grabbed my hand and slid one of the rings onto my finger.

It was a perfect fit.

That was the first time he had ever actively held my hand, and the first time he admitted we were together.

Later, during our very last fight, I ripped the ring off and threw it at him.

I thought he would throw it away, or at least keep it hidden.

I never expected him to hand it over to Mia.

The people around us started chanting.

"Drink up, Sera! Mia is offering you a toast."

"Don't be so rude."

I picked up my glass of juice and lightly clinked it against hers.

"I don't drink."

The smile on Mia's face faded slightly. "Sera is still the same as always."

She lowered her eyes and added, "Always such a buzzkill."

Someone immediately burst out laughing.

Right after, a shot glass was slammed heavily in front of me.

"Here, let's toast to the ultimate simp."

The guy had a booming voice.

"Simping for five years, only to end up with absolutely nothing, and even ended up serving his golden girl on a silver platter!"

"Sera Miller, you really were a dedicated doormat from start to finish!"

The next second, Carter raised his glass and clinked it with the guy's.

"Well said."

The glasses clinked with a crisp, mocking sound.

Watching that scene, I suddenly remembered our last fight before I left.

I had asked him, "Carter, I just want you to acknowledge me in front of everyone. Is that really too much to ask?"

He replied, "It's pointless."

Looking back now, those answers I cried over and constantly obsessed about were indeed completely pointless.

I just didn't get it back then. I had to hit rock bottom before I was willing to turn back.

As the party wrapped up, it was pouring rain outside.

Carter stood at the bottom of the steps. "I'll drive you back to your dorm."

"No thanks."

"Sera."

His voice turned heavy. "You ran away to Europe for two years out of spite. What are you still running from? Are you afraid you can't keep up the act anymore?"

I remained expressionless and raised my hand to hail an Uber.

The window slowly rolled up, blocking his familiar face behind the sheet of rain.

He didn't chase after me.

Just like all those years in the past.

He would only stand there, waiting for me to crawl back on my own.

But this time, I wouldn't.