Chapter 2

2

That man was Caleb, Yasmine's high school sweetheart and her first love.

Back in college, she was the campus queen, and everyone said they were the perfect couple.

When Caleb moved to Europe, Yasmine came to me and confessed her feelings.

I had loved her first, so I had no reason to say no.

I thought if I treated her well enough, she would eventually forget him and love me for real.

But Caleb came back a year ago, and everything changed. All my effort turned into dust.

Yasmine always insisted they were just "best friends."

I didn't realize best friends sucked each other's faces in public lounges.

"Ian?" Yasmine's best friend, Skylar, noticed me first.

She nudged Yasmine. The two of them finally pulled apart, a thin strand of saliva still connecting their lips.

"Ian, what are you doing here?" Yasmine's eyes flashed with panic as she stood up.

Caleb sat there, smirking at me. His expression said everything: "So what if you're getting married? Her heart is still mine."

Skylar tried to break the tension with a nervous laugh.

"Yasmine and Caleb lost a betting game, so we made them kiss. It's just a game, Ian. You're not that sensitive, right?"

"Yeah, Ian. We're just having some fun," Yasmine added, reaching out to grab my arm.

My knuckles turned white as I balled my hands into fists. A game?

"Is this 'game' why you didn't show up to our wedding?" I demanded, my voice cold.

Yasmine knit her beautiful brows, looking annoyed.

"We can always have the wedding later. Caleb is emotionally unstable right now. If I'm not here for him, nobody will be."

I looked around the table at the five or six other people sitting there. Nobody?

"Yasmine, you aren't even married yet and your man is already tracking you down? If you marry him, he'll probably lock you in the house," Caleb said, raising his glass in a challenge.

"I'm asking you one time. Are you coming home with me right now?" I asked.

Yasmine looked at me, then at Caleb. She looked like I was the one being difficult.

I turned to walk away. Suddenly, Caleb groaned behind me.

"Yasmine, my head hurts so bad. Can you drive me home?"

Yasmine didn't follow me. Between me and Caleb, she chose him. Again.