Chapter 2

I'd been on my own for twenty years until I met Lucas.

It was my very first day at college, and he was a senior from the neighboring department.

When he saw me struggling with my luggage, he came over and helped. Gave me a tour of campus.

Then he started pursuing me hard. Everyone knew it.

I grew up in a foster home. Trust didn't come easy.

It took him a full year of chasing me before I finally let my guard down and let him in.

And then I fell for him.

He became my only person. My only anchor.

I was like a tiny boat drifting in the ocean, finally tied to the shore.

But now I saw the truth: ropes snap. And maybe I'd never really made it to shore at all.

I cleaned up the kitchen, grabbed my bag, and went to work as if nothing had happened.

I stayed busy until lunchtime. Then I decided to actually go downstairs for once instead of my usual sad takeout at my desk.

There was a new restaurant in the building. I'd mentioned it to Lucas plenty of times. He was always "too busy."

So I went alone.

I was at the counter placing a to-go order when I heard a syrupy-sweet voice behind me. "Lucas, it's Maya."

I turned around and saw Lucas smiling. Eva White was tugging at his hand as they walked toward me.

"Fancy running into you, Maya." Eva flashed me a saccharine smile.

I didn't say a word, just gave her a slight nod.

"What are you doing down here? Don't you usually order in?" Lucas's tone was casual, totally relaxed, nothing like the way he'd been this morning.

I turned back to the counter. "Got sick of takeout."

There was a brief pause, and then Eva chirped, "Maya, let's exchange WhatsApp. I'm staying in the country for a while now. We can go shopping sometime!"

"No thanks," I said flatly. "I don't really like shopping."

Before I could stop him, Lucas reached over, took my phone out of my hand, and added her in three seconds flat.

I frowned. He shoved the phone back into my palm, his voice cold. "You're twenty-six. Learn some manners."

My chest tightened. But I didn't have the energy to argue.

"Ma'am, your order's ready." The cashier handed me my bag.

"Thanks." I took it and headed for the door.

Behind me, I heard Eva's timid voice. "Lucas... Maya seems upset. Did I do something wrong? I just wanted to be friends..."

"That's just how she is. You're too sweet. How could you possibly guess what's going on in her head? Oh, don't cry..."

I pushed through the glass doors. The breeze caught my hair and drowned out the rest.

I worked until nine. With my departure coming up, I needed to organize all my project files and get them ready for whoever would take over.

I finished the last of my coffee, packed up, and got ready to leave.

My phone rang. It was Lucas calling.

"Maya, we're throwing Eva a welcome-back dinner. Come hang out."

I could hear the exhaustion in my own voice. "I just want to go home and sleep."

Eva grabbed the phone. I could hear her fake-scolding him, "Lucas, you're such a guy. You can't talk to a woman like that and expect her to say yes.

"Maya, I still feel awful about messing up your engagement party. I really want to apologize in person. How about I have Lucas come pick you up? Would that be okay?"

Her voice was so sweet it made my teeth ache. I let out a breath. "You don't owe me an apology. It's fine. I'm hanging up now."

I killed the call and headed for the subway.

Fifteen minutes later, I'd just swiped my card through the turnstile when my phone rang again.

"I said I don't..."

But it was Eva's voice, panicked. "Maya, Lucas's stomach is killing him. He's drenched in sweat. Can you bring his meds? He said you always carry them in your bag."

I stopped walking.

Lucas had bad stomach issues. I knew how much pain he could be in. That was why I always kept fast-acting meds on me.

"Just order delivery. He knows what they're called."

I was about to hang up when I heard it through the receiver. Lucas, groaning in agony, "Ma... Maya... help me..."