pte

oe

sed down on me. My future plans, once so clear, evaporated. My two years with Hol

pportunity in San Francisco. It was a long shot, but I had nothing left to los

ter. It was Professor Dav

you were set on staying in LA, building a life here." His voice hel

a fresh start. A complete change of environment." I kept

tudent, Kloe. I'll see what I can do to fast-track your application. The San Francisco firm is a top-tier tech company,

flickered within me. "Thank yo

ber. My heart leaped. It could be Holden. I felt a surge

my voice tig

ccusing. "What the hell was that text abou

My disappointment was swift and bitter. "You know ex

fter two years? What did I do wrong?" He sounded gen

et clingy anyway." "Gold-digger who didn't find the gold." His anger now

tter laugh escaping me. "You're with my best friend, Holden. An

ridiculous! Who told you that? She's just... a friend. And the

ory," I said, my voice hardening. "I saw you. I

walk away? You think you can dump me? You'll regret this, Klo

ed dreams, the promises of a future together. All of it, a lie designed to win a bet. Now, his anger was

oice barely a whisper. "But ending this isn't one of the

g my meager belongings into my worn suitcase. This w

My heart ached. Kloe? Are you okay? Holden j

felt a surge of indignation, quickly replaced by a familiar pang of protectiveness. Jana was naive. She fell for charming smiles and expensive gifts. Her f

y believed Holden was her savior. I didn't want to destroy that for her right now. She deserved happiness, even if it

omplicated. We just weren't meant to be

. Want to meet up later? Holden's friends are having a get-toge

's friends, her new friends. The same friends

ana. Too busy packing. You go and

me jobs. I needed to move fast. I had a few days before my internship started. I wal

tered. Holden. He sat at a large table, laughing loudly. His arm was casually draped around Jana's shoulders. She leane

nds congratulated him, one even patting Jana's hand. "He's all your

hallenge. Jana was the 'right one' now. I was just a pawn in his game. I felt a wa

umbled forward, colliding with a passing skateboarder. We both

kateboarder asked, scrambling to

s. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone." I tried to push myself up,

Is th

glance. Jana stood over me, Holden a few s

knelt beside me, her eyes wi

whole. "It's nothing, Jana. Just leave me. Go back to

his is my best friend, Kloe! We go way back, even

unded. No.

closer, his eyes on my face. "Kloe?" he as

f lies-and in that moment, I felt the last ember of love for him sputter a