Chapter 2

Ethan's hand trembled as he poured water.

Boiling hot water splashed over my skin, leaving a glaring red patch.

For the first time in five years, Ethan didn't even notice I had been scalded.

He kept his head down, lost in his own thoughts.

Cole broke the heavy silence with an awkward laugh.

"Victoria, how long has it been since you two broke up?"

"His girlfriend is sitting right here. They've been together for five years."

Victoria threw me a disdainful glance.

"With Ethan's personality, if he wanted to get married, he would have done it ages ago. Why wait five years?"

"We were together for just one month when he proposed to me."

"I was young and wanted to party. I didn't want to be tied down, so I dumped him."

Cole looked away sheepishly, unable to counter her.

Because he knew Victoria was telling the truth.

Ethan finally looked up, his eyes slightly rimmed with red.

"Victoria, so you still remember you were the one who dumped me?"

"What was I to you? Someone you could pick up and throw away whenever you pleased?"

He grabbed my hand tightly.

"This is my girlfriend, and she will be my fiancée."

"Victoria, we ended five years ago."

His grip was so tight my bones ached.

I knew right then and there: he had never moved on.

Victoria slid the ring off her finger.

"Fine, Ethan. You said it. Don't you dare regret this."

Leaving a trail of expensive perfume behind, she strutted out of the restaurant.

Ethan turned to me, taking my hand and trying to slip the ring onto my finger.

It was far too large and slipped right off.

"Chloe, I'm over Victoria. I swear."

"You're the one I love now, and you're the only one I want to marry."

"Let's get engaged tomorrow, okay?"

I stared down at him.

I couldn't tell if he was trying to convince me or convince himself.

Suddenly, Ethan stood up.

"Chloe, wait here for a moment. I'll go buy a ring that actually fits."

With that, he rushed out into the night.

I checked the time. Exactly three minutes after Victoria left.

Cole and I waited from 8:00 PM until midnight.

The restaurant closed its doors, but Ethan never came back.

Cole dialed Ethan's number.

It was declined.

He scratched the back of his neck, visibly embarrassed.

"Hey, Chloe, let me drive you home."

"It's late. It's not safe for you alone."

I shook my head.

"Don't worry about it. And don't call me that anymore. Ethan and I are over."

Cole's eyes went wide.

"Chloe, don't do anything reckless! You two have been together for five years. He loves you, for real."

"I'll go track him down right now and make him explain everything!"

I didn't answer. I stepped out to the curb and hailed a cab.

When I returned to the apartment Ethan and I had shared for five years, my phone was buzzing incessantly.

SnapChat, iMessages, missed calls, Twitter notifications.

Every single one was from Lucas:

[What happened? Did you lose a bet at Truth or Dare?]

[Are you serious? Are you really serious? Chloe, you better not be messing with me.]

[Back out if you want. It's not like I don't have girls lining up.]

[Chloe, if you take it back, I swear I'll lose my mind!]

I had kept my phone on silent for our anniversary dinner.

Before I could type a reply, Lucas called again.