Chapter 1

The 99th time I woke up in a hotel room with my childhood best friend, Liam Hayes, he was still just as wild. The next morning, my body was covered in hickeys. The slightest movement sent a sharp ache through my lower back. The lingering scent of intimacy still hung heavy in the air. Liam's long arm wrapped around me, savoring the soft warmth of my body. "Dress formally tomorrow," he said, his voice casual. "Come home with me. "

I shot up, a surge of hope swelling in my chest. "Are you finally going to… make us public? "

Liam arched an eyebrow, glancing at me sideways. "Public? About what? I have a date at my place tomorrow. I need you to help liven things up. Make sure the girl doesn't feel awkward. "

Each word landed like a thunderclap, echoing in my ears. My heart threatened to stop. My mind went completely blank. "You have a date? Then what am I to you? "

Liam was already getting dressed. He spared me a lazy look. "You? You're my go-to for everything. My dinner buddy, my gaming buddy, and, you know, my *bed buddy* for when we need to unwind. "

A chill spread through me, draining the color from my face. My lips trembled. Seeing my expression, Liam's smile slowly faded. He leaned closer. "No, Maya. You didn't actually think we were, like, boyfriend and girlfriend all these years, did you? "

His playful tone pierced my heart like a sharp knife. I fought back the stinging in my nose, my voice fracturing, barely coherent. "Wh-what are you talking about? I-I'm going to take a shower. "

I scrambled off the bed, my legs shaky, and stumbled into the bathroom. The moment the door clicked shut, all strength left me. I collapsed onto the floor. His words still rang in my ears. I stared at the dense array of hickeys Liam had left all over me, and tears streamed down my face. We'd known each other for over twenty years, grown up together. We'd shared the same juice box, flipped through the same comic books. When we turned eighteen, one drunken night, we even ended up in bed together. Once became twice, then thrice…

At night, our bodies fit together perfectly. During the day, we did everything a couple would. We walked hand-in-hand through crowds, kissed at New Year's promising to be together next year, and spent hours on the phone every day to keep the spark alive… I always thought we were together, just not officially public. And now Liam was telling me we weren't a couple? The pain was suffocating. I turned the shower on full blast with trembling hands, finally daring to cry out loud. I don't know how long I stayed there, tears flowing until they ran dry. Only then did I compose myself and step out. Liam was already dressed and sitting on the sofa, talking on the phone. "More people are coming tomorrow, so book a bigger private room at the restaurant. Chloe prefers light flavors, so upscale Mediterranean cuisine will be perfect. A Red Velvet Cake, and pink and white roses for flowers. Send me pictures when it's set up so I can check. And prepare a dozen suits for me to choose from, all black. Chloe only likes that color. "

Hearing that name, my heart seized. Involuntarily, I glanced over and saw the sweet smile playing on Liam's lips. Chloe? His date was Chloe Peterson? The light in my eyes dimmed. If it was Chloe, then I understood why he was so happy. In high school, Liam had a massive crush on Chloe. He’d drone on about her name in my ear dozens of times a day. But before he could ever confess, Chloe moved abroad. Since then, I’d never heard him mention her again. Later, after our own reckless night, we grew closer, and I thought he had long forgotten about Chloe. But it seems that perfect ideal, that first love he never spoke of, he'd never truly forgotten. The sharp pang in my chest returned, so intense I almost dropped my phone. *Bang! * Liam turned at the sound, a playful smile on his face. "All showered? Good. Can you check out later? I already paid for the room. " He picked up his jacket and headed for the door. Just before stepping out, he turned back, a half-smile on his face. "Maya, I've always thought of you as my best friend, like a brother. Don't give me that heartbroken look again. Otherwise, I might think you're getting some ideas about me. "

"I know you inside out. You can tell what I'm thinking with just one look. Don't you think that kind of life would be boring? If we were actually together, it would feel like the end of everything. "

His voice faded with his footsteps, but his words echoed endlessly in my heart. I sat on the cold bed, then I started to laugh, and the laughter turned into tears. So, all these years, that's what Liam thought of me. I sat there alone until late into the night before finally going downstairs to check out. A heavy rain was falling outside, but I barely registered it as I numbly walked home. My parents rushed over, dry towels in hand, their voices laced with concern when they saw me drenched to the bone. "Such heavy rain, why didn't you take a cab? "

I looked at them, my eyes vacant, my voice hoarse. "Dad, Mom, with the group's business changes, haven't you always wanted to move abroad? I've made up my mind. Let's immigrate. Let's never come back. "

They'd been trying to convince me for months, and now, finally hearing me relent, my parents were surprised. "You've really thought it through?