Chapter 1

I showed up out of nowhere, right in front of my long-distance boyfriend.

He looked crisp and clean, a bunch of bellflowers cradled in his hands.

"Cary Joyce."

The instant he turned and saw me, the smile froze on his lips.

All that was left in his eyes was guilt and fear. "What are you doing here?"

I lowered my head and smiled.

I hadn't laid eyes on the girl myself.

But I knew there was no point dragging this out any longer.

1

I asked, knowing full well what the answer was. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

Cary just kept repeating the same question. "You, how did you get here?"

He gave me a stiff, awkward smile. "Happy, of course I'm happy, why wouldn't I be. It's just, I've got a dinner with the guys in a bit, and you..."

Cary was still young. He couldn't hide what he felt.

He was working out how to turn me away, how to not bring me along.

I didn't give him the time. I flagged down a cab. "Come on. I'll go with you."

In the car, Cary gritted his teeth and gave the address.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see his hands shaking as he typed.

I was six years older than him. All through his four years of college, I'd covered everything, food, clothes, a roof, all of it.

A tab of ten grand or so on a night out, I never blinked at.

He was young, a little stubborn, and I never got angry at him for it.

He thought I was just naturally this easygoing.

I tilted my head and looked at the hair tie around his wrist.

But this time, he'd pushed it a little too far.

Cary's thumbs flew as he answered messages, head down, sweat beading heavier and heavier on his forehead.

I stole a glance.

In his group chat, they'd already made me the topic.

【No way, dude, who is she? That woman six years older, the one throwing herself at you?】

【He's shameless, chasing you all the way out here!】

【Is she next to you right now? Take a good sniff, does she reek of old lady? Hahahaha!】

【Cary, you can actually stomach that? You've got some nerve, respect, man! Hahahaha!】

Cary shut off his phone, irritated.

When he turned to look out the window, he was clearly somewhere else.

"The thing tonight, it's a dinner with my classmates, just guys drinking together, you won't be comfortable, right? Maybe you should..."

The driver turned his head. "Here you are."

I got out and headed toward the entertainment club.

Cary trailed behind me, head down. I kept my eyes on him and needled him on purpose. "What was that you just said?"

He raised his head, then slid his eyes away from mine. "Next time you come, at least give me a heads-up."

I smiled faintly. "I spoiled your fun, is that it?"

"That's not what I meant. Forget it, there's no talking to you. Let's just go in."

Cary rushed ahead, his steps getting quicker and quicker, like he couldn't wait to leave me behind.

Around a corner, he got far ahead.

The manager beside me let out a little sound of surprise.

"Oh? Ms. Matthews? What brings you to Harborview? I honestly had no idea, or I'd have brought people to welcome you in advance."

He glanced at the private room behind him. "We just got in a few good bottles. Let me send some over for you to try!"

"Sure."

I pushed past the man in front of me and walked into the room.

The whole place was thick with smoke.

Colored spotlights cut through the haze.

The moment I stepped in, a sharp reek of alcohol hit me.

One sweep of the room, men and women pressed together, grinding to the music.

This was nothing like the simple get-together Cary had described.

Cary was hemmed in at the center of them.

The one draped all over him, arm slung across his shoulders, was his roommate.

"Has the six-years-older granny shown up yet?"

"She's back there."

Then the laughter burst out.

They were all ribbing him. "Cary, who are those flowers for? Our little schoolmate, or the rich old granny?"

"Cary, why are you so late? You've worked up a sweat."

"Hahaha, somebody's worried about him."

"Diana's hands are nice and cool, why don't you go cool your Cary down a little."

"Hahahaha!"

I pulled out a chair and sat down off to the side.

My gaze landed on this girl they called Diana.

Diana Fletcher. Bellflowers.

That bouquet was for her.