Chapter 3

I pulled the brass house key from my coat and dropped it at Ryan's feet.

It struck the tile with a sharp crack.

"We are done, Ryan," I said, my gaze locked onto his face.

Ryan scoffed and crossed his arms.

"You're throwing away nine years over a toothbrush and one bad night," he said, his tone mocking.

"You don't even have a hotel booked in this city, Cath. You haven't lived on your own since we were twenty-two. You will make it two blocks in the cold rain before you call me crying, begging me to let you back inside."

"This isn't about a toothbrush," I said. "You called me your roommate so Sophie could stand beside you. You gave her a key to our apartment. Her belongings have been hidden in our bathroom for months."

"I explained all of that."

"You gave excuses. You never answered me."

He believed nine years with him had made me incapable of leaving.

Sophie stepped out of the apartment doorway behind him.

She slipped her hand around Ryan's arm and widened her eyes at me.

"Ryan, let her cool off outside," she said softly, her voice carrying down the hall. "Where is she going to go with a bag this late? She just wants attention."

"My sister has a room for me in Chicago."

Ryan laughed. "You'll be back before the weekend."

"Then you have nothing to worry about."

Ryan patted her hand, then moved farther into the hallway, keeping his eyes on me as he blocked my way to the elevator.

Liam stepped forward and took the duffel from my shoulder.

Ryan shoved him in the chest.

"Don't touch her bag!" Ryan snapped. "Stay out of my relationship!"

Liam pushed his hands away.

"You brought another woman home, called Catherine your roommate, and now you think you can tell her where she can go?" he said. "Move."

Ryan's face hardened, but he stayed where he was.

I pulled out my phone. It was 11:18 p.m.

Central Station was eight minutes away at this hour. If the elevator came now and the streets stayed clear, I could still make the 11:35 train.

The next train would not leave until six in the morning. I refused to spend another second in the same building as Ryan.

I pushed past him and caught Liam by the sleeve.

"Let's go. I'm catching that train."

Ryan turned and reached for the hood of my coat.

"Cath, stop!"

Before he could reach me, Sophie grabbed his wrist with both hands.

"Just let her go!" she screamed. "Why are you begging her to stay? Why do you care if she leaves? Next month, I'm the one who'll be standing beside you in front of the priest!"

The corridor fell silent.

Ryan froze with one arm still outstretched. The color drained from his face.

He turned toward Sophie, his eyes widening in panic.

"Sophie! Shut your mouth!"

The elevator doors opened with a quiet ding.

Liam and I stepped inside. I pressed the ground-floor button without looking back.