Chapter 3

"Maya, enough already."

"Julian, I'm not being dramatic," I said. "We broke up more than three months ago. You agreed to it back then."

He stood there as if he didn't understand.

After a long moment, he gave a cold laugh. "You think you get to just decide we're broken up?"

I didn't have the energy to argue. I turned and walked away. He shouted after me, "Fine, but don't you regret it. Don't come crying back to me, begging."

When I got back to the bar, someone came over, smiling. "Maya, you and Julian are still so into each other. It's honestly so cute."

"Don't get the wrong idea," I said. "We broke up."

The whole room went silent.

"You're kidding, right?"

"You really broke up?"

"When did that happen?"

"More than three months ago. It wasn't working, so we ended it." I said it evenly.

The moment I finished, Julian pushed through the door. "Yeah, we broke up. I dumped her."

I didn't want to argue with him.

I'd only come for two reasons tonight: to see old friends, and to make the breakup clear, so people would stop putting us together from now on.

Now that I'd said it, I picked up my bag, said goodbye to a few people, and left.

"Julian, did you two just have a fight? Go after her!"

"Maya seems serious this time."

"What are you standing there for?"

A few people pushed him. He didn't want to go, but after Ethan pressed him a couple of times he got up. Some of them followed him out to the elevators outside the bar.

"Maya, is this some kind of misunderstanding? It's been eight years. Don't do this out of spite. Talk it out."

I stopped. "There's no misunderstanding. We really broke up, more than three months ago. We're both fine. It's just over."

I paused. "I'm getting married the last Saturday in September. I'll send you all invitations."

With a soft ding, the doors of the VIP elevator opened.

A tall man with a straight, commanding posture stepped out.

That morning, he'd texted me that he'd be in Ashford tonight meeting a client and would swing by the hotel to pick me up afterward. My college friends didn't know about it.

I hadn't expected his timing to be so perfect.

I glanced at him, then turned back to the group. "My fiancé's here. I'm heading out. You guys enjoy the rest of the night."

Everyone who had followed me out froze.

"Maya, are these your college friends?" He came to my side and took my hand.

I was about to introduce him when a shout exploded behind me. It was Julian.

"Maya!"

"What is he to you?"

Julian's face was flushed bright red, the veins at his temples standing out, his eyes looking like they could swallow someone whole.

"Maya, who is this?"

"Introduce us!"

"Is he really your fiancé?"

"He's so hot..."

A few of the women whispered among themselves.

None of the men said anything. They just sized up the man in front of them.

I ignored Julian and raised our hands, our fingers laced together.

"Everyone, this is my fiancé, Adrian Cole."