Chapter 4

When I came out of my room the next morning, the apartment was empty. Lucas had already left without a word.

I threw together a sandwich and coffee and went to work.

Busy morning. It wasn't until the lunch break that I finally checked my phone.

There was a little red notification dot on my social feed.

I tapped it. Eva's post: [Aww, it's not that I'm easy to please. It's just too cute.]

The photo was a selfie of her snuggling a fluffy, super cute kitten.

Lucas must have gone home with me last night instead of staying with her. She was pissed.

I laughed at myself. Then I raised my finger, double-tapped to like the post and deleted her contact.

Before I left work, Violet said the department was having a dinner get-together.

I rode with her.

As soon as I got in the car, Lucas called, "Where are you?"

I didn't answer. "What's up?"

"I made a reservation. When are you off? I'll come get you."

I stared straight ahead, face blank. "Don't bother. Department dinner tonight."

There was a pause, then Lucas replied, "Oh, okay. Don't stay out too late."

After hanging up, Violet glanced over and asked, "Boyfriend?"

I gave a bitter smile. "Not for much longer."

She studied me for a moment. "Maya, you're not taking this overseas job just to run away from a fight, are you? I don't need an employee using work as an emotional dumping ground."

I was quiet for a few seconds. Then I told her the truth. "Honestly? At first, yeah, I was emotional.

"But I've thought it through now. I've got no one but myself. My own back, my own future. This is a great opportunity. I'd be an idiot to pass it up."

She nodded. "That's what I wanted to hear. We women need to look out for ourselves."

The dinner was with coworkers I'd spent years with. We'd had our ups and downs, but when it came time to say goodbye, there was real feeling there.

When the night wound down, we hugged one by one.

"When you make it big overseas, don't forget us little people back home."

"Keep in touch, Maya."

I smiled and waved, my nose stinging.

Violet gave me a gentle pat on the back. "I'm heading out. See you at the airport."

"Yeah," I replied.

I watched my coworkers disappear into the night. Took a deep breath and was about to call a cab.

Then I walked past the restaurant next door and practically ran into Lucas coming out.

He had his arm around Eva. Her cheeks were flushed with wine. The kitten was in her arms.

Lucas spotted me and started to say something. Eva beat him to it. "Oh! Maya, hey..."

She burrowed into his chest and waved at me.

I walked right past them, didn't even spare them a glance.

"Lucas, why won't Maya talk to me?" Then, as if something suddenly occurred to her, she pulled away from him, putting distance between them. "Oh my, I'm sorry, Maya. I just had too much to drink. Don't get the wrong idea..."

My face was calm. I gave her a faint smile. "Don't worry about it."

Lucas called after me, "We'll go home together. My car's over there."

The thought of getting into his car made me sick.

"No thanks."

Just as I finished talking, a piercing scream came from up ahead. I turned toward the noise. Headlights. A car had jumped the curb, torn through the landscaping, and was barreling straight at me.

My legs locked. I couldn't move.

Instinctively, I reached for Lucas's hand, but I grabbed nothing but air.

At the very last second, the car screeched to a halt, inches from my face.

When my brain came back online, I saw Lucas standing several feet away, his arms wrapped tight around Eva.