Chapter 2

Then it hit me: six months ago, Ryan came back from a business trip with a weird red mark on his neck.

He claimed it was a mosquito bite, but come on, it was winter.

And just last month, he was out on the balcony at midnight, whispering on the phone. The second he saw me, he hung up fast, saying it was "work stuff."

And that password-protected album on his phone, when I asked about it, he brushed it off, saying, "Just old college pics, nothing interesting."

So that was what had been going on.

"Ryan, did it ever cross your mind? If she really only has three months left, why isn't she spending her time getting treatment, instead of showing up at your door?" I asked, trying to stay rational.

"Isn't that a little weird to you?"

"Olivia!" Ryan suddenly snapped. "How can you be so cold? It's cancer! Do you really think she'd joke about something like that?"

"I don't know," I said, getting to my feet. "But I want you to look into it. I just don't trust her."

"So you don't trust her, and you don't trust me either?" Ryan looked genuinely hurt. "Olivia, I never thought you'd be this kind of person. Are you really going to question a dying woman's last wish?"

"I'm not doubting her. I'm doubting you," I said, staring straight into his eyes. "Ryan, if you walk out that door today, it's over between us."

He stood there, stunned, his eyes darting between me and the doorway.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

It was Jessica at the door.

She looked even thinner than in the photos, dressed in a white dress, her face ghostly pale and her eyes swollen and red. She really did look like someone on the verge of collapse.

As soon as Jessica saw Ryan, tears spilled down her cheeks. "Ryan," she choked out. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come, but I'm just so scared."

Ryan hurried over and gently caught her. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

It was the kind of scene that belonged in a cheesy romance drama.

Jessica turned to me, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Olivia, please, I'm so sorry. I know this is asking way too much, but the doctor says I really don't have much time left I just want Ryan by my side for these last three months.

"Could you could you let me have him, just for three months?"

She reached out to take my hand, but I stepped back, avoiding her touch.

"After three months, I promise I'll stay out of your lives," she said.

She was sobbing, tears streaming down her face. "I swear, once I'm gone, you two can finally have your happy ending. Please, I'm begging you."

Ryan wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving me a look like I was the villain. "Olivia, just look at her. She's like this, can't you show a little compassion?"

Compassion.

Honestly, the whole thing was so ridiculous, I almost wanted to laugh out loud.

I spent two years patching Ryan up after she dumped him, stuck with him through his failed startup, and held his hand when his dad died.

All the blood, sweat, and tears I poured in, my youth, my love, none of it mattered compared to a few tears from her.

"Olivia, I really do love Ryan," Jessica choked out, tears streaming down her face. "Even when I left him back then, I didn't have a choice.

"Now that I'm dying, all I want is to say a proper goodbye to him. Can't you just spare a little kindness for someone who's about to leave this world?"

Ryan watched me, like he was waiting for me to be the bigger person.

I looked at them and suddenly laughed.

"Sure," I said.

Both of them froze.

"Since you two are so devoted, I'll step aside and let you have each other," I said, turning and heading into the bedroom. I grabbed that deep blue velvet box.

Inside was the wedding ring I'd spent months searching for, a simple platinum band with a modest diamond. I remembered when Ryan's startup crashed, he promised, "Someday, when I've made it, I'll buy you a bigger diamond ring."

But now, I didn't need it anymore.