Chapter 2

2: 2

The car had rolled maybe thirty feet before he noticed I still hadn't gotten in.

The window came down and Adam stuck his head out, shouting at me.

"Bridget, are you stupid? Don't you know you're supposed to get in the car?"

He thought I couldn't hear. He frowned and waved me over.

After we checked into the hotel, I sat on the edge of the bed with my head down, looking at my phone.

Adam must have sensed I was in a bad mood. He crouched down in front of me, his face softening a little.

"Ellie asked me to help her rehearse her speech for tomorrow. Let me go keep her company for a while."

"There's a well-known steakhouse nearby. I already made a reservation. Once I'm done, I'll take you there."

"Just the two of us. We'll spend Valentine's together today."

Something stirred in my dead, still heart.

He still cared about me.

I set the phone down. Before I could tell him my ears could hear again,

he picked up his phone and pressed record on a voice message.

"Ellie, don't worry, I'm coming right now."

"I have to keep Bridget calmed down, don't I? If she makes trouble for us again and it messes up your award ceremony tomorrow, that'd be no good."

My throat closed up, and I swallowed the words back down.

He didn't see the disappointment on my face.

Soothing Eleanor on the other end of the line, he walked out fast.

By eight that night, I was so hungry my stomach hurt.

I texted Adam to ask how much longer he'd be.

An hour later, he finally replied.

【Ellie's speech has some issues. We're still working on it.】

I glanced at the time in the top corner.

【But it's already nine.】

【Just wait a little longer.】

My vision blurred for a second. My blood sugar had dropped so low my body wouldn't stop shaking.

【Adam, my blood sugar's crashing. I need to eat something.】

Another half hour passed before he answered.

【We came on this trip for Ellie's award ceremony, not to take you on vacation. Be more considerate.】

I tugged at the corner of my mouth and gave a bitter little laugh.

So it turned out being hungry and wanting to eat could also be called inconsiderate.

Five minutes later, my social media feed refreshed.

Eleanor had posted a picture.

The table was covered with desserts in every flavor, and behind them was the back of Adam.

The caption read:

【I said I was hungry, so he ran outside the hotel to buy me cake. He didn't know which flavor I liked, so he bought all of them.】

I tapped the like button.

Five minutes later, Adam came back.

His face was dark as he threw the dessert bag down in front of me.

"Is this funny to you?"

I looked up at him and didn't move.

Anger and impatience sat in his brow.

"Bridget, Ellie spent all night memorizing her speech. It's exhausting. So what if I bought her some dessert to cheer her up?"

"Now Ellie's afraid you're angry and doesn't dare eat. Happy now?"

"She and I grew up together. If there were really something between us, would it ever have been your turn?"

Watching his hands sign it all so fast,

my eyes stung.

He didn't care that I'd waited for him all night, didn't care that I was dizzy with hunger.

All he cared about was that Eleanor wasn't eating because I'd liked her post.

Slowly, I signed.

"Adam, I waited for you all night. I haven't eaten anything."

He looked at my bloodless lips and froze for a second.

Then Eleanor appeared in the doorway.

"Adam, the speech still has some problems. Can you take another look for me?"

Adam turned at once and followed her out.

Once again I was left alone.

He didn't come back until the early hours.

I looked at the reminder text on my phone, the marriage-license appointment set for seven days out.

I opened the government services portal.

Without the slightest hesitation, I canceled the appointment.