Chapter 5

Day four of the cold war.

Lucian left early, came home late, went straight to the study.

When we ran into each other in the living room, he looked at his phone and I looked at the TV. Nobody said a word.

Like two strangers sharing an apartment.

Sadie saw I was down and dragged me out to eat.

"Stop sitting around. I got us a private room. Cry if you want, yell if you want."

We sat down. Laughter came from the next room.

I knew that laugh.

Sadie's face changed. "Maybe we should go..."

I shook my head.

Chloe's soft voice came through the wall.

"Lucian, I still feel bad about the concert. The mic was meant for Seraphina. I should have known better. Maybe I should apologize to her?"

"Nothing to do with you." Lucian's voice was flat. "I gave it to you. You took it. That's it."

One sentence in front of a whole table. She was off the hook.

But whenever I went to his office, he kept his distance. Said people talk.

One of his friends kept going. "But Luce, I heard Seraphina had something planned that night?"

A beat of silence.

"I knew she was going to propose. Someone told me a month ago." Same lazy voice.

Sadie's head snapped toward me.

My nails dug into my palms.

"You knew and you still gave the mic to Chloe?" The friend couldn't believe it.

"What was I supposed to do? The harder she pushes in public, the less I give."

"When she throws a fit, I play along. But marriage? She needs to learn that making a scene won't work."

The friend sighed. "Still, eight years. Wanting to make it official isn't crazy."

Lucian went quiet.

"Of course I'll marry her. But not because she made me."

"When I do it, that's my call."

Another friend lowered his voice. "Honestly, Seraphina loves a scene. Always making it a big deal."

"Right. Chloe's so easy. No drama. When has she ever given you trouble?"

Chloe's voice came through, sweet and pouty. "Don't say that about Seraphina. She probably just loves Lucian too much. After all these years... she's not getting any younger."

That last part. "After all these years." Just the right amount of pity.

Lucian said nothing.

A round of knowing laughter.

Sadie's hand reached across and grabbed mine. Her fingers were shaking.

I patted her hand, picked up my bag, and stood.

"Sade, let's go."

I pushed our door open and walked past theirs.

Glasses clinking inside. Chloe's sweet laugh.

It was raining.

The streetlights stretched a long wet line into the dark.

I kept walking. I didn't look back.