Chapter 4

By the time I got home, the clock on the wall read midnight.

I started packing.

I've always been someone who knows when to let go.

I'd spent three years loving the wrong man, and that was on me for being blind.

But now that fate had shown me the truth, that he'd outsourced his love for me, cutting my losses was the only smart move left.

I didn't have much, really.

So much of this place came in pairs, things I'd bought myself, and there was no point taking any of it.

The dark thinned toward dawn, and the edge of the sky had gone a hazy blue-gray.

I booked a moving service and sent my boxes back to my own apartment.

Then I opened the airline app and bought a seat on the first flight to Miami.

It wasn't until I'd cleared security and sat down at the gate that I noticed a message I'd missed the night before:

Ms. Brooks! See you tomorrow at ten at the studio, don't be late. We can't wait to shoot the most gorgeous bridal photos for you and Mr. Winters.

Right.

Per the original plan, the day after our anniversary was the day we'd shoot our engagement photos.

I'd forgotten, and I'd bet Noah had too.

Choosing the studio, comparing packages, locking in the date: two solid months of back-and-forth, and Noah hadn't been part of a single second of it.

The day we were supposed to settle on a date, he'd actually frowned and said, dead serious:

"Why do we even need bridal photos? You just change outfits and stand there while people pose you. It's a hassle."

"Why do people waste so much time on these pointless rituals?"

The day I went to try on gowns, Noah was working late at the institute.

My best friend took time off work to come with me instead.

When I stepped into the gown, the one heavy with embroidery, and stood before the three tall mirrors, my friend just stared, eyes going red, cursing Noah for not knowing what he had.

The seamstress pinning in my waist couldn't help sighing too.

"Such a shame the groom isn't here to see this first."

"When a man watches his bride put on her gown for him, that moment hits him. He remembers it the rest of his life."

I'd lifted my skirt and smiled at the mirror. "It's fine. He'll see it when he picks me up tonight."

I waited at the shop until dark, and all I got was an apologetic voice note from Noah:

"Baby, I'm so sorry, I was halfway there and Lily called. Her tire blew on the highway."

"It's dangerous for her out there alone, so I'm going to handle it. Go have a nice dinner with your friend, send me the bill, I'll cover it. Be good. Love you."

My friend was so furious she was grinding her teeth, ready to climb through the phone and tear the two of them apart.

And I just smiled at the mirror.

What I'd thought then: what bad luck, he's not here.

What I thought now: this is better.

I pulled my mind back, looked at that cheery don't-be-late from the studio, and typed three words: Please cancel it.

Then I called the studio manager and explained, politely, that due to private circumstances beyond my control, I had to cancel all remaining sessions.

What she said back caught me completely off guard.

"Ms. Brooks, it's no trouble at all. I'll petition corporate to make an exception and refund your deposit. Finding the right partner matters so much more than any photo shoot."

"Honestly, I've wanted to say this for a while. You handled every single thing with us, and your boyfriend never even called once. He doesn't deserve you. Congratulations on getting out."

I gave a wry smile.

The whole world had seen clearly that he didn't love me. Only I had buried my head in the sand, performing my one-woman show for three years.

The boarding call came over the speakers.

Before I got on, I sent Noah one last text:

We're done.

The second it sent, the program in the background triggered again.

"Baby? Where's this coming from, why would you say something like that? What did I do wrong, baby? Don't be mad at me, I can change, just talk to me—"

I didn't answer. I pressed the power button, my expression flat.

The screen went black.

As the plane tore up into the clouds, I thought: the sky over Miami should be clear.