Chapter 1

1.

Elena noticed that I had stopped asking for her opinion on everything.

An email came from work―a position had opened up at the New York headquarters, and they wanted to know if I was interested. I filled out the application and hit send before I even remembered I hadn't told her.

When Sam's wedding invitation arrived, addressed to "Caleb Vance and Guest," I RSVP'd for one and wrote a separate check for their gift.

Even the minor surgery, the one that required a hospital stay, I handled myself. I found a specialist, dealt with the insurance pre-approval, and scheduled the procedure all on my own.

Elena was a surgeon. When she found out, she frowned.

"You're sick? Why didn't you tell me?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

"I handled it. Don't worry."

As soon as I said it, we both froze.

Just two weeks ago, I was the "attentive boyfriend" who would text her photos of restaurant menus and wine lists, agonizing over which place would make our anniversary perfect.

"The Italian place or the steakhouse?" "Does this tie look too formal for your work gala?"

She used to answer. Then her replies became a curt "either one is fine," and eventually, she just left me on read.

I thought she was just busy. Until I realized she wasn't like that with everyone.

For instance, with Liam―the son of her late mentor, whom she’d been asked to look after.