Chapter 4

Lucian didn't turn around.

A few seconds of silence.

"Get some rest."

He walked into the study and closed the door.

Something sour spread through my chest.

I knew the answer. I asked anyway.

Maybe eight years isn't something you just let go of.

But this was the last time.

Late that night, I sat on the edge of the bed and opened the nightstand drawer.

A stack of pages lay inside. The corners had yellowed and curled.

Two years ago I'd saved wedding photos off the internet and printed them. Venues, flowers, invitation fonts, vow templates.

I brought them to him, beaming. He was on the phone. He mouthed "later" and waved me away.

Two years. That "later" never came.

My phone buzzed.

Sadie was still angry.

"Restaurant's cleared out. Sera, the more I think about the concert, the madder I get. Three months of planning and he just..."

"Sade, it's fine. I'm leaving anyway."

The other end went quiet for a long time.

"You're sure? Eight years together, eight years gone. When you come back, nothing will be the same."

"Yes."

"You won't even tell him?"

"Sade, there's nothing left to say."

Sadie didn't speak. After a while, her voice came back thick.

"I'll keep the banner. Just in case..."

"Sade."

"Yeah."

"Throw it out."