Chapter 3

"No."

"Then let me see your phone."

"No way."

"Why not?"

"Just because."

I walked around the coffee table and stood right in front of her.

"Lucas."

I reached for her pocket.

She grabbed my wrist with surprising strength.

"Let go of me."

"Don't do this, Lucas."

Her fingers dug into my skin, her knuckles turning white.

She was terrified of me seeing what was on that phone.

The more she resisted, the more certain I became.

"Lucas!" she screamed, shoving me hard.

I stumbled back a few steps, my back slamming against the wall. A sharp pain shot up my spine, making me gasp.

She stood by the entryway, her chest heaving, clutching her phone tightly.

We stared at each other. Neither of us spoke.

After a long, agonizing silence, she looked away.

"I’m leaving," she said, her voice dropping.

"We both need to cool down."

She grabbed the door handle and walked out.

The door slammed shut. I leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the floor.

I sat there for a long time, until the sky outside went completely dark.

Finally, I dragged myself up to find my phone.

I scrolled to "Mom" and hit call.

She picked up on the second ring.

"Lucas? Why are you calling so late?"

Hearing my mom's voice, my eyes instantly stung with hot tears.

"Mom," I said, my throat tight. "The wedding is off."

"What?"

"Chloe went to the hotel and canceled it. She didn't tell me. I just found out today."

Silence hung on the other end of the line for a few seconds. Then, my mom's voice erupted:

"What does she mean by that? What right does she have to cancel it? Did you guys have a fight?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"She said it's a waste of money."

I leaned back against the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"She said she already told her parents. She told me to tell you guys, too."

"That is complete bull!"

My mom snapped.

"A waste of money? Our family is paying for the reception venue! We didn't even complain about the cost, so why is she throwing a fit?"

I didn't say anything.

"Lucas, tell me the truth. Is there something else going on?"

"I don't know."

"I wanted to see her phone, but she wouldn't let me."

"Stay right there. Your father and I are coming over!"

"Mom, you don't have to."

"What do you mean we don't have to? You stay right at home! We’re only a few miles away. Wait for us, we’re on our way."

The line went dead.

I held the phone, listening to the quiet hum of the night.

I tossed the phone onto the couch, stood up, and walked into the bedroom.

On the nightstand, there was still a framed photo of us taken in Maui last year.

My arm was wrapped around her shoulder, she was leaning into my chest, and both of us were smiling so wide our eyes were squinted.

On the back of the photo, she had written: With Lucas, forever.

Forever.

How long is forever?

I opened the closet, grabbed her clothes, and threw them onto the bed one by one.

Her t-shirts, her blouses, her coats.

By the time I was done, her side of the closet was completely empty, and her clothes were piled like a small mountain on the mattress.

I sat down next to the pile, staring into space.

Then, I got up and walked into the study.

There was an iPad on the desk. It belonged to her, and she usually left it at home.

I knew the passcode. It was the same as our phones—the date we officially started dating.

I unlocked the iPad.

The screen lit up with her familiar interface. Her Instagram was logged in.