Chapter 2

I tightened my grip on my keys.

"Why are you in my apartment?"

Sophie sipped her tea and shrugged.

"I drank too much," she said. "Ryan gave me his spare key so I could stay here tonight."

She turned her back on me and walked barefoot toward the master bathroom.

I followed to get my toiletry bag from beneath the sink.

Sophie opened the medicine cabinet and reached for the highest shelf, the one Ryan had insisted we leave empty for guests.

There was a pink electric toothbrush, a travel-sized bottle of facial cleanser, and a prescription night cream bearing her full printed name on the pharmacy label.

The items were not new. Months of shower steam had curled the edges of the labels.

I picked up the toothbrush.

"How long has this been here?"

"I don't remember." Sophie took it from me and placed it back in the holder. "Ryan said I could leave a few things. He didn't think you'd mind."

"He put them on a shelf I couldn't reach."

"Maybe he knew you'd react like this."

The front door clicked shut down the hall, followed by the heavy thud of Ryan's leather dress shoes hitting the entryway mat.

He must have driven straight home after realizing I had left the reunion without him.

His eyes moved from her to the bag at my feet.

"Cath, stop making a scene." He blocked the doorway. "It's late, it's pouring outside, and she only needs a place to sleep. Stop ruining the night because you're insecure."

Sophie lowered her hands, her lower lip trembling slightly as she looked between us.

"Maybe I should call a cab," Sophie said, moving toward the door. "I don't want to come between you and your roommate."

Ryan caught her wrist before she reached the door and pulled her back.

"Stay, Sophie," he said. "My home is your home."

I swung the duffel bag over my shoulder and walked past both of them without uttering a single syllable.

Liam was waiting beside the elevator, rain darkening the shoulders of his wool coat.

Ryan stepped out of the apartment after me and stopped when he saw Liam waiting by the elevator.

His jaw tightened.

"What the hell is he doing standing outside my door?" Ryan barked, pointing a finger at Liam's chest.

"You brought Liam Wells to our apartment? What kind of cheap game are you playing, Cath?"

Ryan stepped between me and the elevator.

"If you leave with Liam tonight, our nine years are over. Do you hear me? We're done."

I tightened my grip on the duffel strap.

"That's my line."