Chapter 2

The smell of cigarettes still lingered on him. I couldn't stop coughing, and it was getting increasingly harder to breathe.

But that was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

I remembered when we first started dating and I had an asthma attack—Darren stayed right by my side, afraid I might come into contact with anything that would set it off. But now, he said he didn't remember.

Just then, Monica came over and pried me away from Darren's arms. "What's wrong, Chrissie? Why are you crying?"

She dragged me away so hard I nearly lost my balance. Her grip on my wrist was painful.

I shook off her hand, wiped the tears from my eyes, and said, "It's nothing. Just felt a bit breathless and uncomfortable."

Monica turned to Darren and comforted him, "That's just Chrissie. She's always been frail. You're going to have to take care of her all the time."

Just a couple of words, and she made me out to be nothing but trouble.

*****

That night, back at the hotel, I saw Monica had posted something on her social media.

It read: [I get the most beautiful view with you by my side.]

The photo showed Monica in the passenger seat, her fingers entwined with Darren's over the center console.

Without thinking, I liked it.

Less than a minute later, Monica messaged me.

Monica: [Don't overthink it, Chrissie. I don't have a boyfriend, so I just borrowed yours for the photo. You know me—Darren's totally not my type.]

Me: [It's nothing. It's the latest online trend to steal your bestie's guy for hand-holding pics anyway. Don't worry. I'm not bothered at all.]

Me: [It's been forever since our last girl's night. Wanna hang out tonight? We could gossip till sunrise.]

Monica replied instantly: [Absolutely!]

I turned off my phone, thinking about the viral video with over a hundred thousand likes.

Monica always dreamed of making it big on the Internet, so I figured I'd gift her a video that would go even more viral.

The kind of video that could blow up and turn her into an overnight sensation.

I popped open my suitcase and casually stuffed two power banks in my pocket.

Darren strolled out of the bathroom. "What's with the power banks?"

I didn't bother to glance his way, just kept my tone cool. "I'm spending the night in Monica's room. It's been forever since we had a girls' night—last time was back in university."

"Chrissie, how would I survive without you?" It would've been cute if I didn't spot the quick spark of joy in his eyes right as I turned away.

"I'm off," I said.

I closed the door behind me. Monica's room was just diagonally across the hall.

I knocked.

Monica must have been waiting at the door. She swung it open the moment I knocked.

"Chrissie, baby!" Monica pulled me inside. "Look, I ordered a ton of snacks. We can stuff ourselves and binge on dramas all night."

I glanced at the table—there was barbecue, pizza, beer, and chips.

I turned to her. "Monica, you never eat these."

Monica popped open a can of beer and handed it to me. "But you love them, Chrissie. It's fine. Just watching you enjoy them makes me happy."

Honestly, I used to be touched by things like this. But now, these seemed like poison to me.

Monica and I kept chatting all the way till nearly eleven. My alcohol tolerance sucked, but Monica just kept handing me drink after drink. Pretty soon, I was passed out on the bed.

"Chrissie?" Monica called. "Chrissie, wake up. You should sleep in the room, come on."

She gave me a couple of firm nudges, but I didn't even twitch.

"Tsk, what a hassle," Monica grumbled.

Her tone switched, like she was a different person. I narrowed my eyes, watching her slip into the bathroom, then come strutting out in a lacy black nightie that made her skin glow.

Her curls fell perfectly around her waist. She looked my way, smiling, then grabbed her phone, her face softening with a lovestruck glow.

Moments later, there was a knock on the door. Monica went to answer it.

It was Darren.

"Chrissie is asleep, right?" Darren asked.

Monica was way bolder than him. She slid a finger through his belt loop. "Don't worry, she's a total lightweight. Back in school, one drink and Chrissie would pass out. Trust me, even a marching band couldn't wake her now."

Darren's eyes were glowing as he stared at Monica, eating her up with his gaze. "Come on, let's head over to my room."

But Monica just smiled playfully, slowly hiking up her skirt to show off her long legs. Darren was mesmerized. She slipped off her shawl, revealing her smooth back, then seductively retreated into the bathroom.

"Don't you think this is even hotter?" she asked.

Darren couldn't hold himself back anymore. He pulled her close and kissed her wildly. "Monica, you're so much more fun than Chrissie. She's such a bore."

*****

From the bathroom came the sound of a belt being undone, followed by heated passionate moans.

I gripped the sheets so tightly. All that was left inside me was pure disgust.

If they weren't so busy pouncing on each other, they might've noticed the towel I'd wiped my mouth with was soaked and smelled of alcohol.

The bathroom wall was just frosted glass, and the sight of their entwined bodies pierced my eyes.

"Ooh, Darren... Tell me, who do you love more—me or Chrissie?" Monica moaned.

"Monica, I love you more. You're so warm... You're a thousand, no, a million times better than Chrissie," Darren groaned.

Every filthy word they said stabbed my heart like a razor-sharp knife. Seven years together, and Darren had never once lost himself like this for me.