Chapter 3

That evening's bonfire was held on the beach.

Firelight painted every face red. I sat on Ethan's right, while Anna sat on his left.

Ethan had placed my hat on the damp stone beneath Anna, saying a woman should not sit somewhere cold.

I looked at the crushed brim and felt nothing.

Eventually someone suggested Truth or Dare. Zach spun an empty beer bottle, and it stopped with the neck pointing directly at Ethan.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth." Ethan took a relaxed sip of beer.

Zach glanced at Anna, then drew out the question for effect. "What is your single greatest regret in life?"

The group fell silent. Only the snapping firewood remained.

Ethan's grip tightened around his bottle. He did not look at me. He turned to Anna and held her gaze.

"Not making it to Iceland ten years ago."

His quiet answer pierced every pretty lie we had told ourselves over the last five years.

Ethan and Anna had planned to see the northern lights in Iceland after high school graduation. Then Anna decided he was too poor and left the country with a rich boyfriend instead. Ethan had waited at the airport for an entire day and night.

He had told me the story once, but then he had said he was glad the trip never happened because otherwise he might never have met me.

Now it was the greatest regret of his life.

Anna lowered her head, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

"I'm sorry. If I hadn't gotten sick back then, maybe everything would have been different."

The lie was seamless. Pain crossed Ethan's face. He reached out and gently patted her back.

"It's in the past," he said hoarsely.

Their friends sighed in perfect sympathy. Someone murmured, "They never stood a chance."

I sat among them like an intruder.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was an email from Human Resources.

Claire, your transfer to our Frankfurt office has received final approval. Please complete your handoff no later than the twenty-fifth.

Three days away.

I locked the screen and stood.

Ethan finally noticed. "Where are you going?"

"I'm tired. I'm cutting the trip short and leaving tomorrow." My voice was as calm as if I were discussing the weather.

His brows drew together. He rose, grabbed my wrist, and lowered his voice.

"Do you have to ruin the night when everyone is having fun? It was a game. Why do you make everything so serious?"

"A game?" I looked at his hand around my wrist. "Is that really what this is to you?"

"What else would it be?" He flung my hand away. "Can you stop being so sensitive? Whatever Anna and I had ended years ago. You're the woman I'm marrying. Do you need me to apologize in front of everyone before you'll be satisfied?"

Anna stood as well, tears still clinging to her lashes. "Don't blame Ethan, Claire. If my presence bothers you, I'll leave tomorrow. I don't want to come between you."

"Why should Anna leave?" Zach cut in. "Ethan planned this whole trip for her... for all of us. Why should she go just because somebody else is insecure?"

Ethan did not correct him. He only looked at me with cold disappointment.

"If you want to go, go alone. I won't drive you to the airport. When you calm down and stop being unreasonable, we'll talk."

He turned away, sat beside Anna again, and clinked his bottle against hers.

Firelight danced across his profile. I barely recognized him.

I did not argue. I simply walked into the dark.