Chapter 2

I looked at him, at his eyes, at those bright red flowers he was holding, at his thin sweater, and his ears flushed pink from the wind.

I thought back to high school. He sat in the row behind me, and every time I dozed off during lectures, he'd slide his notebook onto my desk so I could copy his notes later.

I remembered that one impossible math problem he tried to teach me. After the third attempt, I still had no idea what he was talking about. He let out a laugh. "God, you're impossible." Then he explained it a fourth time.

I remembered the day we finished our SATs. He stood in the crowd, just watching me. He looked like he wanted to say something. But he never did.

I remembered college. I went to school up north, and he stayed down south. I heard he had a girlfriend. That night, I stayed up crying, and by morning, I had erased every way to reach him.

I remembered my mom calling last month to tell me that Jason had come back, and then pointedly asking why I was still single.

I crouched down so we were eye to eye. "Aren't you cold?"

He blinked, then shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Liar." I tugged off my scarf and looped it over his head. "Look at your ears. They're completely red."

Jason looked at me, and the light in his eyes grew stronger.

"Jason," I whispered.

"Yeah?" His voice was quiet.

"How long did it take you to save up for all this?"

He scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. "A while. A few months' pay, maybe."

"You're such an idiot."

"Yeah. I guess I am."

"But how did you know I'd get in your car tonight?"

He smiled, his eyes crinkling. "I didn't. I just waited outside your office every night. For seventeen nights."

My tears finally fell.

"Don't cry, Elena." He reached out and wiped my tears with his thumb. "It's okay if you don't—"

"I do." I cut him off.

He froze.

"I said it. I do," I repeated.

Church bells began ringing. The whole city seemed to be lit up at once. Strings of Christmas lights draped every street, and the buildings glowed in red and gold and green.

He stood up and pulled me into his arms.

"Elena," he said, his voice muffled against my ear. "I'll be good to you. I promise. For the rest of my life."

I breathed in the clean scent of his sweater and nodded hard.

In that moment, I thought fate had handed me the most perfect gift.

I learned later that every gift from fate comes with a price tag. I didn't see it until it was too late.

*****

"Hurry up. The county clerk's office closes soon," Jason said. His tone was so casual it could have been about anything.

I stood outside the county clerk's office, looking up at the sign. It was the same door we had walked through three years ago.

That day, he wore a borrowed suit, and his tie was crooked. I fix it for him.

He smiled and said, "I'll learn to do this myself."

I told him, "Never mind. Even if you never learn, I'll always tie it for you."

He held my hand. "Elena," he whispered, "we're going to be so disgustingly happy."

And I believed it.

*****

"Elena?" His voice came again, impatient.

I turned to look at him. He stood at the bottom of the steps, wearing a black coat and a watch I had never seen before. It looked costly. He stared at his phone, his brow slightly furrowed, like he was dealing with something important.

The guy who used to blush just helping me with my seatbelt now wouldn't even look at me.

"Let's go in," I said.

He paused, probably surprised by how calm I was.

Inside, there weren't many people. The clerk behind the counter asked, "Do you have the signed agreement?"

"Yes," we answered at the same time.

"And the property division is settled?"

"Yes."

"Any children?"

"No."

After the last question, the clerk looked up at us. She seemed to wonder how two people so calm could end up here.

I asked myself the same question. How did we end up like this?

The clerk pushed the form toward us and pointed to the signature line.

"Jason," I said.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Do you know what day it is today?"

His pen stalled over the paper. He kept his head down. "Divorce day."

"Three years ago today, we were right here. We signed a different form."

He finally looked up at me.

"You were wearing a borrowed suit," I went on. "Your tie was crooked. I fixed it for you. You said you'd learn to do it yourself. I told you I'd always tie it for you."

His expression shifted, just for a second. Then it was calm again.

"Just leave it," he said. "That was a long time ago."

"Fine." I bent my head and signed the paper.