Chapter 2

Before we left, I hooked my arm through Eric's, ready to head out, with Kelsie trailing behind us.

I glanced at her, noticing how she was all dressed up in a pretty dress. "Kelsie, you look so nice. Are you going out too?"

Kelsie leaned against the wall, one hand holding her high heels. "Didn't you say we were going out for dinner? I've been dying to try that restaurant for ages, but I could never get a reservation."

I shot Eric a suspicious look. "Wasn't this supposed to be our date night?"

Eric looked at me. "Kelsie's your best friend, after all. Wouldn't it feel a bit off to leave her out? It'll be much more fun with the three of us."

Kelsie slipped her arm through mine, giving me a playful pout. "Alisa, please... We're besties, you wouldn't mind, right?"

Kelsie knew I was a sucker for her. As soon as she started talking all sweet and gentle, I just couldn't refuse her.

By the time we got to the new restaurant, it was already eight. Eric ordered a surf-and-turf set.

After we finished ordering, Eric went to make the dipping sauce.

Kelsie looked at Eric. "Eric, can you make one for me too?"

I couldn't help but wonder how these two could be on such friendly terms.

"Alright, you two just sit tight. I'll be right back," Eric said.

Once Eric was out of sight, I gave Kelsie a probing look. "So, you two... Do you guys go out for food together a lot?"

Kelsie didn't expect me to be suspicious already, but she played it cool.

She answered, "You're hardly ever home, so Eric and I just end up being food buddies. We grab a bite together whenever we both have time."

She added, "Don't worry, Alisa. Eric's really been taking good care of me. Don't give him a hard time, okay?"

I flashed her a polite smile. "As long as you're happy with where you're living, that's all that matters."

Trying to keep it casual, I asked, "So, have you found a place to stay yet?"

Kelsie grabbed my hand, giving me a sheepish look. "Alisa, are you really trying to kick me out?"

She immediately switched to her most pathetic puppy eyes. "You know I don't know anyone in this city. You're literally all I've got. Please don't send me away."

Just then, Eric came back with two bowls of dipping sauce and caught that last part.

"What? You're kicking her out?" Eric cut in, his voice rising in shock.

His tone was pure disbelief, like he couldn't wrap his head around it.

"No, I didn't mean it, I was just asking," Alisa said quickly, trying to smooth things over.

Kelsie took the dipping sauce from Eric, laughing it off. "Geez, you almost scared me there."

Eric set the dipping sauce in front of me. It was exactly like the one he made for Kelsie, piled high with sesame seeds.

My heart clenched. Eric seemed to have forgotten that I was allergic to sesame.

Pushing the bowl toward Eric, I said, "Here, you take it."

Eric smacked his leg, realization dawning on his face. "Shoot, that's my bad! I totally forgot and thought you both liked the same stuff."

Kelsie was crazy about sesame, but I was allergic to it.

On our very first date, Eric baked me a sesame brittle from scratch.

He was usually clumsy, yet it was the first time he had ever made something himself. I took a symbolic bite.

Not long after, I started breaking out in hives.

Eric was visibly panicked and hurried me straight to the hospital.

The doctor warned Eric that I was allergic to sesame and should avoid anything with it. If things got serious, it could actually be fatal.

On the way back, Eric was all worried and heartbroken, but he still couldn't help fussing over me and blaming me for not being careful.

"If you're allergic to sesame and can't eat it, why didn't you just tell me?" Eric said.

I gave him my best puppy eyes, all teary and pitiful, feeling totally wronged.

"No one's ever treated me this kindly before. I just didn't want to disappoint you after you went to all that trouble," I whispered.

Eric gently ruffled my hair and made a pinky promise with me.

"Silly girl. I'll always take care of you, for as long as I live," Eric said softly.

Looking at that bowl of sesame sauce sitting right in front of me, I suddenly felt a pang of loss in my chest.

Eric really did forget the promise he made back then.

Ever since Eric started mixing the dipping sauce, the whole mood at dinner quietly shifted.

Later that night, Eric tried to make it up to me. "Alisa, I just forgot for a second. Don't take it to heart, okay?"

He used to remember everything about me, every little thing.

After Kelsie moved in, nothing had been the same.

Before Eric jumped in the shower, he asked me to grab his pajamas. When I opened his closet, I spotted a sexy ice silk slip that was definitely for a woman.

It wasn't my size, and the tag had already been cut off.

I had never worn anything that skimpy before.

Eric had always been a total neat freak, and his closet was like his sacred space. He couldn't stand anyone else touching his stuff.