Chapter 3

3

A few nights later, after finishing my handover at work, I left the office for the last time.

As I passed a local bakery, I realized it was my birthday.

I bought myself a tiny cupcake with a swirl of vanilla frosting.

But when I walked into the house, I froze.

The living room was covered in streamers and balloons. Vivienne was standing on a ladder, hanging a final banner.

A massive, three-tier gourmet cake sat on the dining table.

My heart skipped a beat.

Could it be? Did she actually remember?

"Don't just stand there," Vivienne said without looking back. "Give me a hand. Asher will be here any minute."

I looked closer at the banner. It didn't say "Happy Birthday."

It said, "Welcome Home, Asher! Cheers to a Speedy Recovery!"

My hand tightened around the plastic bag, crushing my little cupcake into a mess of crumbs and frosting.

I was such an idiot. I had actually thought, for a split second, that she cared.

In the four years since Asher had come back into her life, she hadn't spent a single birthday with me.

She couldn't even bother to remember our anniversary.

She had erased me from her priorities entirely.

And yet, I still had that tiny spark of hope. How pathetic.

I didn't say a word. I turned toward the stairs.

Vivienne jumped down from the ladder and shouted at me, her face twisted in a frown.

"Didn't you hear me? Today marks exactly sixty-seven days since Asher went into the hospital. Help me with the banner! I want everything to be a surprise."

"You have a great memory," I said, my voice flat.

She didn't know it was my birthday, but she knew exactly how many days Asher had been sick.

Vivienne looked confused for a second.

Then her eyes fell on the mangled bakery bag in my hand.

She saw the logo of the cake shop.

Slowly, the realization dawned on her.

Her ears turned a faint shade of red, and she cleared her throat awkwardly.

"I've been... really busy lately. Between the company and Asher's recovery, I just lost track of the date."

"Why don't we just celebrate together? We have plenty of extra candles..."

"No thanks," I said coldly. "Since this is all for Asher, it wouldn't be fair for me to intrude. Right?"

Vivienne caught the sarcasm in my voice. Her face darkened instantly.

"Caleb Thorne! I'm just worried about Asher's mental state during his recovery! Why do you have to be so damn passive-aggressive?!"

She stormed over and grabbed my wrist.

"Keep acting like an ungrateful brat, and don't expect me to follow through with the wedding!"

"Fine by me," I said with a light laugh. "I'm leaving this place anyway."

Vivienne's eyes widened. A flash of panic crossed her face.

"Leaving? What do you mean? Where are you going?!"

I wrenched my hand away.

"None of your business," I said, before walking upstairs and locking my door.