Chapter 3

Emily came back at seven the next morning.

She opened the door, saw the spare key and the ring on the dining table, and stopped in the entryway.

I was packing my suitcase, putting my shirts, my ID, and my laptop inside, one by one.

She rushed over and pressed down on the lid of my suitcase. "What are you doing?"

I took her hand off the suitcase. "We're done."

Emily's voice shot up. "I was taking care of a friend last night."

I asked, "You stayed with him all night until seven in the morning?"

Her face went pale. "He threw up. What was I supposed to do?"

"You could've called a driver, an ambulance, his family, his classmates, the front desk, or let him deal with it himself."

She clenched her fists. "How can you be so cold?"

I stopped what I was doing. "Emily, I told you the rules before you left last night."

Her eyes were red as she stared at me. "Alex, are you really breaking up with me over something like this?"

I zipped up my suitcase. "It's not about this."

She reached for the ring, her fingertips brushing against it before she pulled her hand back.

"I admit my attitude was bad last night, but you have your own problems too. You're way too sensitive," Emily said.

I stared at her. "You say I'm too sensitive? Then tell me, what's the difference between a friend and a boyfriend?"

She pressed her lips together.

I asked, "A friend can call you in the middle of the night and ask you to come over, but if your boyfriend did the same, would that be okay?"

She didn't say a word.

I asked, "So a friend can take the shrimp I peeled for you, but your boyfriend isn't even allowed to question it?"

Her breath became uneven.

I asked, "So a friend can say in front of everyone that you only let him carry you when you're drunk, and your boyfriend is supposed to laugh and act like it doesn't bother him?"

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Emily choked out, "Stop asking."

I draped my last jacket over my arm. "I never questioned it before, so you always assumed it was okay."

There was a knock at the door.

Emily thought it was the food delivery, so she wiped her tears and went to answer it.

Instead, Brian was standing outside.

He was wearing the same jacket as yesterday, his face pale, and he was holding a bag of breakfast.

When he saw me with my suitcase, his eyes flickered for a moment before he quickly looked down. "Did I pick a bad time to show up?"

Emily froze. "Brian, what are you doing here?"

Brian lifted the breakfast bag. "Thanks for taking care of me last night, so I brought you some breakfast. Alex, don't take it the wrong way, I wanted to say thanks."

I glanced at the two cups of soy milk in his hand, one unsweetened, one sweet.

The sweet one was Emily's go-to.

I asked, "You even know her apartment number and what she likes for breakfast?"

Brian forced a smile. "We've known each other for ages, that's all."

I asked, "Did you realize her boyfriend is still here?"

He glanced at Emily. "Emily didn't mention it."

I turned to Emily. "You didn't tell him, were you afraid he wouldn't come, or were you afraid I'd find out?"

Emily's face went pale. "Don't assume the worst about me."

Brian took a step back. "Alex, if you've got a problem with me, say it to my face. Don't take it out on Emily. She kept defending you all night, saying you care about her too much."

I set my suitcase down and looked at him seriously. "Did I ever come at you?"

He froze.

I said, "I asked what you did, and you acted like I was blaming you. Guess you know those things aren't exactly flattering, huh?"

Brian's grip on the breakfast bag tightened, leaving creases in the paper.

Emily stepped in front of Brian, putting herself between us. "That's enough, Alex. Stop grilling him like he's a suspect."

I watched as she stepped in to shield him. "See? You always defend him first."

She froze.

I stepped past them and made for the door.

Emily suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

I looked down and slowly peeled her fingers off my wrist, one by one.

"Somewhere I don't have to compete for you with anyone else," I said.

Brian said quietly from behind, "Emily, don't chase after him. He won't listen right now."

I stopped at the elevator and turned around. "I can hear you fine. So tell me, why shouldn't she chase after her boyfriend?"

Brian's lips trembled.

The elevator doors slid open, and I dragged my suitcase inside.

Emily stood in the doorway, tears clinging to her chin, but she didn't take another step forward.

Right before the doors closed, I saw Brian reach out and rest his hand on her shoulder.

She didn't push him away.