e and stale nostalgia. Six years. It had been six years since I fled th

one in her hand, her arm wrapped possessively around Caleb

ing through the ballroom. Her eyes found mine across the crowd, a fa

bid curiosity. They were waiting for the explosion, for the scene I was supposed to make. They r

e, typed in Caleb' s name, and sent him $2,000. T

ce calm and clear enough for those

placed applause. Stella' s perfect smil

dress swishing, and pulled me into an alc

hat, Ethan?"

e give gifts fo

ot real. It' s just for show. Caleb' s family is super conservative, and this will get them off h

emptiness where six ye

broke up. Six years ago. I want nothing

away, but she w

! It was a fight! A cold war!

less. I started walking toward the exit, needing fresh air,

me. It was Stella, with Cale

pping in front of me. "Still think

is defense. "Caleb, don' t. H

hat' s what

rd, driving toward Las Vegas to elope. The sudden, frantic call from C

She told me she' d be right back, that Caleb jus

ping into my bones. I was the one who had to call the Vegas chape

tagram, posting photos with the caption: "Always her

all contact, accepted a job offer

them, I felt nothing but

I said, my voice level.

Look, man, I feel bad. I told Stella we should ju

She looked at me, her expression a practiced mix of concern

and pulled out a small box. He op

e said, a smug look on his face. "I just admired it

h. "You want me to take anothe

f my wrist, tossed it into a nearby public trash

ella stared,

leave for go

abbed my hand, her fingers

d as she felt the cool, so

to my face, her own tur

re ma