Chapter 1

The mall was running a promotion, and I won a honeymoon package for two to an island getaway.

It was Bali, the place Crystal James and I had always dreamed of visiting.

I was so excited I couldn't sleep.

I took time off work and spent more than half a month planning the trip in advance.

But on the day we were supposed to leave, Crystal breezed through check-in.

And I got stopped by the staff.

I was standing there, confused, trying to figure out what was going on.

Then I turned around and saw Ulysses Pruitt in a white shirt, walking briskly toward us, dragging a suitcase.

Crystal smoothly took the boarding documents from his hand and casually explained it to me.

"Ulysses just went through a breakup, and he's been down."

"This is the perfect chance to take him out and help him clear his head."

"We've got a long future ahead of us. Next time there's a chance, I'll take the trip with you."

I watched the two of them slowly walk away.

And suddenly I felt like our years together had reached their end right along with them.

1.

I don't know how I made it out of the airport.

By the time I got home, it was already dark.

Mom was in the kitchen simmering soup, and when she heard the door open, her face filled with confusion.

"Why are you back? Where's Crystal?"

I stood in the doorway dragging my suitcase, my throat closed up like something was lodged in it.

I couldn't get out a single word.

Mom could see how down I was, but she didn't press me.

"Did you and Crystal have a fight?"

"You're about to be a married man, and you're still this unsteady. Go wash your hands and eat first."

"Whatever it is, you can tell me slowly after dinner."

The more she talked like that, the worse I felt.

I sat down at the table, but my mind kept replaying that scene at the airport.

That white shirt Ulysses had on was the one I'd spotted right away while planning the trip.

White linen, sharp and crisp.

I'd even paired it with a light-colored dress, thinking Crystal and I could save them as matching outfits.

But when Crystal saw the price, she frowned.

"Sixteen hundred for a shirt you'll only wear once is such a waste."

"There are going to be so many wedding expenses coming up. Wouldn't it be better to keep the money?"

I thought she had a point.

In the end I just bought a plain white shirt for a little over a hundred.

But now that ordinary shirt was left at home with me.

And that expensive white shirt was on Ulysses's back.

My chest felt tight, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

I dragged my suitcase back to the bedroom and lay on the bed, too listless to move.

At ten that night, Crystal called.

I could hear waves in the background, mixed with Ulysses's happy laughter.

"We've landed. Are you home yet?"

I held the phone and gave a quiet answer.

She seemed to finally remember something.

She sighed, with a hint of helplessness.

"Xavier, are you mad?"

"Ulysses just broke up with his girlfriend, and he's in a really bad way. He even said a lot of extreme things this afternoon."

"We grew up together, after all. I can't just stand by and ignore him."

When I didn't answer, she paused.

Her voice grew even gentler.

"Come on, don't be angry."

"When we get back, I'll make it up to you with that watch you've always wanted, okay?"

That familiar tone made my chest go heavy.

All these years, she'd always been like this.

When things were good, she was impossibly gentle.

And when her temper flared, she could infuriate you half to death.

I was just about to say "forget it" when my phone suddenly buzzed.

The photographer I'd booked had sent me a photo album.

Mr. Summers, Ms. James said she wants to make some changes to the photography package.

Take a look. Do you like the style of these wedding photos?

I froze, and the words came out before I could stop them.

"You changed the photography package I booked?"

Crystal went quiet for a moment, then went on explaining.

"Ulysses wants a set of wedding photos to spite his ex-girlfriend."

"Since you couldn't come this time anyway, I changed the package to the style he likes."

I couldn't help raising my voice.

"Then what about our wedding photos?"

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to book this photographer?"

Crystal was silent for two seconds, and her tone turned a little impatient.

"Aren't all photographers pretty much the same?"

"If you want photos, I'll take them with you when I get back. Why do you have to make an issue of it with someone who just went through a breakup?"

I wanted to say more.

But Ulysses's voice came through the phone, hurrying her along.

Crystal hung up in a rush.

In the huge, empty room, all that was left was the ticking of the wall clock.

I took a deep breath, deleted the message I'd already typed out, and sent a new one instead.

"You've given him our wedding photos and our honeymoon. Are you going to hand him our wedding too?"