Chapter 1
On New Year's Eve, Adam Bennett, my boyfriend, had his phone auto-connect to our neighbor's Wi-Fi.
That was when I realized all his late overtime nights only meant hanging out in the building next door with our neighbor, Emily Carter.
A few days later, I met up with my best friend, Sophie Lane, for a party. Mid-conversation, she suddenly gasped out loud. "Why does your boyfriend's keychain match my roommate's exactly?"
I looked down at the worn trinket dangling from his keychain, something I'd hand-sewn for him years ago.
Adam grabbed the keychain back nervously, his ears turning bright red.
I lifted my glass with a quiet smile and toasted Sophie and her roommate, Emily.
The grand New Year's Eve fireworks display lit up the sky. Adam and Emily, the well-matched pair, would have their perfect ending, right then and there.
*****
On New Year's Eve, soft snow drifted down through the air.
I stood on the balcony, watching as Adam's phone automatically connected to a Wi-Fi name I knew all too well.
It read "Emmy's Home 102," the network for unit 102 in the neighboring apartment building where Emily lived.
"Claire, it's cold out there. Come inside." Adam's voice drifted over from the living room, warm enough to thaw the frost coating the windows.
I turned to see him walking over with two glasses of mulled wine.
His sweater sleeves were casually rolled up, showing off the watch I had given him.
"Thinking about work again?" he asked.
He stroked my hair softly, the movement second nature to him. "Don't push yourself so hard. It hurts me to see you like this."
I took the glass, letting the warmth of the wine seep into my cold fingers.
"Why are you home so early? Didn't you say you'd be stuck working until ten?" I asked.
Adam's expression shifted for a fleeting moment before he composed himself.
"Project wrapped up early, so I wanted to come home and spend New Year's Eve with you," he said.
He raised his glass. "Happy New Year, honey."
The clink of our glasses echoed in the air.
Just then, his phone screen lit up in my palm.
A WhatsApp notification popped up.
Emily: [Adam, she didn't suspect anything, right? I left my pajamas in your car. Remember to bring them for me tomorrow!]
Adam saw it too. His face went pale, but he forced himself to sound casual. "Probably some random junk texts. I keep getting weird messages lately."
I smiled and took a slow sip of my wine.
The burning liquor slid down my throat, searing through every inch of me.
"Maybe," I said. "But 'Emily' is a pretty name."
The air went still for several seconds.
Adam forced a couple of awkward laughs and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Forget about it. Let's go watch the fireworks at midnight. I heard there's a special show by the river this year."
"Sure," I said.
I leaned into his embrace, breathing in the warm blend of his cologne and rose scent lingering on his clothes. "Just the two of us?"
"Of course." He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, gentle and earnest like a quiet wish spoken in church.
I closed my eyes, yet my mind kept replaying a recent scene.
It was past one in the morning that night, and Adam's car was parked right outside the neighboring apartment building. The passenger door swung open, and a pair of bright red heels stepped onto the pavement.
Then Emily looked up toward my balcony, her face wearing that familiar innocent smile.
I remembered she'd posted a picture on her social media that night. The caption read: [Got home late last night. So grateful for the ride home.]
The photo was taken from the passenger seat, showing the city at night. In the corner, the keychain with the trinket I'd given Adam was clearly visible.
Back then, Adam had explained, "Just a team dinner. I gave her a lift since she's new to the area with no familiar connections around."
I believed him because loving him made me instinctively overlook flaws and twist logic to justify his lies.
Just then, my phone buzzed. This time, it was a group message from my best friend, Sophie. [Don't forget the party tomorrow. Bring your plus-one.]
I replied with an OK emoji, and then looked up at Adam. "Sophie's hosting a party tomorrow. Will you come with me?"
He hesitated for a split second, but I noticed it.
"Tomorrow I might have to go to the office for something," he said. "But I should be able to make it to drive you there."
"It's okay. Work comes first," I said with a soft, thoughtful smile. "I can get there on my own."
Adam visibly relaxed and kissed my cheek. "You're always so understanding."
It was 11:50 PM. We put on our coats and got ready to head out.
As Adam was putting on his shoes in the entryway, his keychain slipped out of his pocket.
His keychain held a well-worn little trinket whose details had almost faded entirely. I'd sewn it stitch by stitch through countless late nights back in college.
Its threads were loose and frayed, and one small part hung barely attached, ready to fall off at any moment.
He hurriedly snatched it up and shoved it back into his pocket.
"It's worn out like this. Why haven't you replaced it?" I asked.
"It's a gift from you. I could never get rid of it." He kept his head down to tie his shoelaces, his tone quiet and subdued.
For a moment, I almost felt my heart soften.