Chapter 2
My mom spelled out exactly how my life was supposed to go.
At 29, I'd meet a guy named Ethan Carter.
He was a product director at a tech company, raking in 250 grand a year.
He'd got a movie star face and a ripped, blood-pumping physique.
Basically, he was a walking heartthrob, who'd make every girl on the street do a double take.
Besides, he was thoughtful and kind.
He'd remember every little thing I said, show up with late-night snacks when I was burning the midnight oil, and talk with me until dawn when I was feeling down.
He'd drive me home when it was pouring, buy me hot cocoa when I was on my period, and always take my side when I got into it with my family.
Mom said that back then, I really believed I'd met "the one," and marrying him was the best choice I could ever make.
So we dated for three years and tied the knot when I was 32.
The wedding was a grand affair. I wore a white gown, feeling like the happiest woman alive.
During our first year as newlyweds, Ethan gently suggested I leave my job.
He said, "Babe, why put yourself through all that stress? Let me take care of you.
"I earn more than enough for both of us.
"Just stay home and live the good life."
I thought he was so sweet and caring.
So I handed in my resignation and became a stay-at-home wife.
But in our second year of marriage, he cheated on me.
His affair was with a 22-year-old intern at his company who was fresh out of college.
By the time I found out, they'd already been together for three months.
When I confronted him, he said, "It didn't mean anything. You're the only one I care about."
I believed him.
He promised he'd end it with that girl, once and for all.
I believed him.
He swore he'd never cheat on me again.
Still, I believed him.
By our third year of marriage, I found our house had nothing to do with me.
His parents covered the down payment, and he'd been secretly transferring money to them for the mortgage.
At that point, I was six months pregnant.
At 35, we got divorced.
He took the house, the car, and our kid.
I walked away with nothing.
To make it worse, I was left with sixty grand in debt. Ethan took out all the loans in my name after we got married, and I hadn't even read the IOUs carefully.
At 36, I was crushed by depression.
At 37, I threw myself off the 24th floor.
My final thought was, 'If only I'd never gotten married.'
Mom held me in her arms at the hospital, crying nonstop for three days straight.
It was the darkest moment of her life.
She kept wondering, 'What if I hadn't pushed Claire to get married?
'What if I'd checked in on her more often?
'Or if I'drealized what kind of guy Ethan was, would things have turned out to be different?'
But there was no point in "what ifs."
In 2045, the time machine was invented.
The tech was super new and crazy expensive, plus there were tons of rules.
Everyone only got one shot at time travel in their whole life.
And there was no coming back.
Still, Mom blew through every last penny she had to buy a ticket.
She gave up everything in the future and went back in time to save me.
She told me, "From now on, I won't push you to get married.
"All I want is for you to live a good life.
"I hope you live to be seventy or eighty, with grey hair and missing teeth.
"It's okay even if you stay single forever.
"As long as you're alive, nothing else matters."
I couldn't hold it in anymore, breaking down crying.
*****
When I was twenty-nine, Ethan showed up.
It was at my friend's wedding. I was a bridesmaid, and he was a groomsman.
When it was time for the bouquet toss, the bride threw the flowers and I instinctively reached out.
Somehow, I caught it.
Ethan walked over, flashing a charming smile.
"Talk about fate. Looks like you're up next," he joked.
I looked up at him.
He really was drop-dead gorgeous, with sharp features and a smile always in his eyes.
When he spoke, he dipped his head a little, like he was letting me in on something special.
He had a magnetic charm that made me want to get close to him.
If I hadn't known what was coming, I would've been head over heels for him already.
But I knew better.
So I just flashed him a polite smile. "Oh, really? Guess we'll see about that."
Then I turned and walked away.
Behind me, I heard his friend say, "That girl's different."
Ethan sounded intrigued. "Interesting."
I picked up the pace.
Interesting? I'd show you what a bad idea that was.
*****
For the next three months, Ethan pulled out all the stops with his picture-perfect wooing.
On the first day, a bouquet of red roses turned up at the office reception.
The next day, it was pink roses.
On the third day, he parked his Porsche right outside the office building, with a guy strumming a guitar and singing love songs there.
"Claire, will you give me a chance?" he called out.
The passersby whipped out their phones to record, and my coworkers crowded by the windows to watch the show.
I walked out.
"Do you know you'll get a ticket if you park here for more than fifteen minutes?
"And that guy playing guitar out here without a permit will be fined, too.
"You pulled this stunt, making me the talk of the office. How am I supposed to face my coworkers now? What if my boss thinks I'm not serious about my job?
"Did you ever stop to think about how I feel?" I asked coldly.
Ethan's smile froze.
The singing stopped.
The crowd exchanged awkward glances.
I patted Ethan's shoulder and said, "Nice try, but that's not gonna work on me. Maybe come up with something new."
Then I turned and walked back into the office.
Behind me, someone muttered, "Is she crazy? Turning down a guy that hot."
Crazy? I just knew what hid behind that handsome face.