Chapter 3

3

"Dylan, you've lost it!"

Ashley glared at me, pointing her finger in my face.

"You disappeared for three months.

"I was searching for you everywhere, worried something bad happened."

"And you were just off having fun, not caring that I was freaking out?"

"Don't you think that's a little messed up?"

Freaking out?

I wasn't following her and Brad that closely, but I did see that viral video.

Her and Brad hitting the slopes. They looked great together, laughing, all lovey-dovey.

Someone asked for Brad's number, and Ashley stepped in front of him, all possessive, saying, "Sorry, he's mine. We're married."

The internet went nuts for it. Brad's Instagram blew up, and his couple videos got millions of views. He was living the dream.

That's Ashley's idea of freaking out?

So fake.

"Ashley, we're not married."

I scoffed at her, annoyed.

"I don't need your permission."

"Breaking up just takes one person."

"If the phone call wasn't formal enough, I'm telling you now."

"We're done. Let's just pretend we never met."

I got in my car and drove off, leaving Ashley standing there.

To avoid any drama, I announced our breakup on social media and in our group chats. I made it clear that I didn't want to hear anything about Ashley ever again.

I thought Ashley would leave me alone, knowing how proud she is.

But she went the opposite direction and started blowing up my phone.

Calls, texts, everything. When I blocked her, she just used a different number.

I got hundreds of calls and almost a thousand texts in two weeks.

She even roped in our friends, throwing these elaborate stunts trying to get me back.

Family, friends, even my parents. She tried to get to me through everyone I knew.

Compared to her grand gestures, I looked like some heartless monster.

Even my grandpa, who never cares about this stuff, called to ask what was going on.

I just told him, "Grandpa, this isn't about getting back together. It's harassment and intimidation."

"Don't worry about it. I'll handle it."

He was quiet for a second, then said, "Just let me know if you need anything."

After that call, I got a DM on Instagram.

It was Brad. He wanted to meet up.