Chapter 1

James Nolan and I grew up joined at the hip. We were childhood sweethearts who'd sworn since grade school we would end up at the same college.

He was quiet and gentle, the kind of student who won first place in every major academic competition he entered.

I was poised and well-read, with an early admission offer to the city's elite high school.

Everyone we knew swore that we were meant to be endgame.

But for all his easy warmth with everyone else, James had a permanent grudge against my best friend Emily, who had always struggled badly with her schoolwork.

Once, when I was walking her through the questions she'd gotten wrong on her exam, he lingered nearby, scowling.

He furrowed his brow and cut in sharply. "Emily, c'mon. Are you this dense? Studying is a complete waste of your time."

"You might as well drop out now and scrape by on minimum wage." His voice carried a cold, mocking edge. "You'll crash and burn the second you step into the real world anyway."

Another time, during a relay race, she tripped hard and sprawled across the track, knees scraped raw and cheeks burning with humiliation. James leaned against the fence, a smirk tugging at his mouth.

"Braindead and clumsy?" He curled his lip, every word dripping with lazy mockery. "Some total package you are. I can't imagine any guy dumb enough to put up with you."

That was the last straw. She hopped up on her banged-up leg and swung at him, fuming.

I stood to the side, laughing, dismissing it as their usual stupid back-and-forth.

Then my birthday arrived. I held my formal acceptance letter from Wycliffe University overseas, yet James never showed up as we'd arranged.

I crumpled the letter in my fist and searched everywhere for him, asking everyone we knew until someone told me he was at the hospital.

When I found the room, Emily was there, her eyes puffy and raw from crying, screaming at him like she was falling apart.

"Happy now, James?" Her voice was ragged with sobs, raw and frayed at the edges. "My mom's dying. Go ahead, laugh like you always do."

James offered no sharp retort. He stood silent.

I took a step forward, ready to step in and calm her down. Then he lifted his hand and pulled her gently against his chest.

His eyes held that tender, aching fondness I'd always believed belonged only to me. He spoke a quiet promise, low and warm against the top of her head. "Emily, don't be afraid. You've got me. Always."

I froze right where I stood, fingers crumpling the letter tight as I forced back the burn of tears behind my eyes.

After a long, motionless beat, I smoothed out every wrinkle in the paper, pressing each crease flat between my fingers.

James, this time it was you who broke the promise first.

*****

I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned to leave.

But Emily spotted me, her voice trembling. "Grace?" she called out, her tone sharp with surprise.

By the time I turned back, they had sprung apart, putting a careful distance between their bodies.

"Why are you at the hospital? Are you sick?" Emily hurried over, her voice thick with concern. She rushed over and curled her fingers around mine, worry painted across her features.

When her gaze followed mine to James, she froze. The realization hit her that she owed me an explanation.

Emily blinked, realizing it was her turn to speak.

"My mom's in the hospital. I haven't had get a chance to tell you yet," Emily spoke in a shaky voice. "James is here for a follow-up on his old injury, and we ran into each other."

Seriously? What are the chances?

Back then, I would've trusted her completely and never questioned a single word she said.

I would've hugged her tight, feeling her pain as my own, and promised her that everything would turn out fine.

But now, that image of them holding each other tight was seared into my mind. I could not shake it.

"It was nothing. I came to pick up cold medicine. How's your mom? Need any help?" I kept my voice light and acted as if I'd noticed nothing was out of the ordinary between them.

Emily managed a strained smile and shook her head. "I'm okay. I can handle this on my own. You two should head back," she said.

With that, she clutched her payment slip and joined the line at the billing window.

All that remained was her solitary back.

James reluctantly tore his gaze away from her and turned to me. "Let's go. I'll walk you home," his voice low and hard to read.

On the way, James was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice his shoelace had come undone.

I was about to speak when my phone flooded with birthday messages from friends and family.

James glanced over, and his expression went rigid.

I realized he had forgotten my birthday and the dinner we had promised to share.

"Grace, I'm sorry. Things got hectic, and it slipped my mind," James said, regret clear in his voice.

"Let's celebrate now, only the two of us," he added, eager to make things right.

He led me to a cake shop and apologized the entire walk.

As we browsed the cake display, James's gaze landed on the "Mango Delight" without hesitation. "Grace, how about this one?" he asked.

He didn't even wait for my answer. He already waved the clerk over to have it boxed.

"I cannot eat mango. I have an allergy," I blurted out and stopped him before he could pay.

James was caught off guard for a moment, and he seemed at a loss for words.

But I only gave an awkward smile and asked the clerk to swap it for a strawberry cake instead.

Emily and I were total opposites when it came to mangoes. She absolutely loved them, while I had a severe allergy to them.

Back then, James would always make sure there wasn't a single mango on the table whenever the three of us ate together.

He was always worried I'd have another accident and end up in the ER again.

But now, his heart had quietly shifted toward someone else.

A bitter ache twisted in my chest, and I could barely draw breath.

We both silently agreed not to mention the incident. James pretended everything was normal as we sat together in the park.

"Grace, make a wish," James said softly. He lit the candles for me with that gentle, caring smile of his.

I closed my eyes, then snuck a peek a moment later.

James had already turned away, occupied with texting on his phone.

[Can you handle being at the hospital alone? Should I come over to help?] James was texting Emily.

[I'm honestly really worried about you,] he added.

I had never seen such anxiousness from him before.

It turned out they had already grown deeply attached, right beneath my notice.

I closed my eyes again and tried to swallow the bitterness rising in my throat.

By the time I blew out the candles, James had put his phone away and watched me intently.

"James, thank you for spending my birthday with me," I said, my voice steady.

I said nothing of what I had seen and gave him a soft, casual smile.

"You should head back. I've got a riding lesson in a bit," I added, my tone light.