Chapter 2

Anne's POV

After I told Mom I'd move with them, I went to my room and locked the door.

I sat on my bed staring at nothing. My brain felt like static. Every time I tried to think about what just happened with Owen, my mind just... stopped.

I don't know how long I sat there. Long enough that the light outside changed.

"Anne?" Mom knocked softly. "Sweetie, we need to leave soon. For the... for Owen's party."

Right. The engagement party.

"Give me five minutes," I called out.

I changed into a black dress, simple, nothing special. Puat on some makeup. Looked in the mirror and barely recognized myself. I looked fine.

Dad was already in the car when I came downstairs. Mom squeezed my hand as we walked out.

"This is so sudden." Mom shifted in the front seat. "Owen just brought Mae home a week ago, and now they're getting engaged? They barely know each other."

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

A week ago. I was in that shitty hotel room two cities over, drinking bad coffee at 2 AM, trying to finish a project. I texted Owen goodnight and he sent back "k" and I told myself he was just tired.

He was with her.

My stomach twisted.

Yesterday I got back from that trip looking like death. He picked me up from the train station and drove straight to his place. Didn't even let me shower first. Just pulled me into his bedroom the second we walked in.

And he'd already decided to marry Mae by then. He fucked me knowing he was going to marry her.

I dug my nails into my palms.

"Anne?" Dad caught my eye in the rearview mirror. "You feeling okay?"

"Yeah."

The hotel appeared up ahead, lit up.

The lobby made my eyes hurt. Everything white and gold and shiny.

Owen stood in the middle of it all, pointing at a banner while some workers adjusted it. He looked perfect. Navy suit, hair styled just right.

He saw us and nodded.

Dad walked over to shake hands with Owen's dad. Mom followed. I drifted behind them.

"Everything looks beautiful," Mom said.

Owen's mom grabbed Mom's hands. "I'm so glad you could come! I know it's incredibly last minute, but when Mae suggested tonight, Owen was so excited." She laughed. "Young love!"

Yeah. Young love.

"We were just saying," Owen's mom turned to me with this big smile, "how funny life is. Years ago I used to joke that maybe Owen and Anne would end up together. You two were inseparable growing up."

Everything in me went cold.

Owen's face changed. The smile disappeared.

"Mom." His voice came out hard. "Don't."

"Oh, I'm just—"

"I said don't." He moved closer to her, jaw tight. Then he looked at me. "Anne and I grew up together. She's like my little sister. That's it. That's all it's ever been."

Little sister.

My nails cut into my skin. I kept smiling. Kept standing there acting normal even though he'd been inside me yesterday, even though he'd whispered all that shit in my ear about what he wanted to do to me.

Mom's hand found mine and squeezed hard.

"Anne."

Owen's voice cut through all the chatter. He was staring at my neck.

"Your necklace. Where is it? The one my mom gave you."

Every single person in that lobby turned to look at me.

I touched my throat. Nothing there. I'd taken it off this morning and forgot to put it back on.

Owen walked toward me.

"That necklace." He stopped right in front of me. "Only my wife should wear it. Give it back."

I stared at him.

"What?" Owen's mom's voice cracked. "That was Anne's birthday present! You made me give it to her when she turned eighteen. You picked it out!"

"Yeah, well. I want it back now." Owen didn't look at his mom.

I couldn't breathe right.

"Owen, that's completely inappropriate—" his mom started.

"It's fine." I'm cracked. "I'll get it. I can go home right now."

"Anne, you don't have to—" Mom reached for my arm.

I pulled away. "It's fine. I'll be quick."

I turned and walked out.

Behind me Owen said something about the ceremony starting soon. His voice sounded light. Like nothing happened.

I was crying as I took a cab home, then ran straight to my bedroom to look for the necklace.

Photos everywhere in my bedroom, me and Owen at graduation, at the beach, at Christmas.

I cried so hard I thought I might throw up. Huge, choking sobs that hurt my ribs and burned my throat.

The necklace sat in its box on my dresser. I picked it up. The little silver heart caught the light.

"This is only for you."

That's what Owen said on my eighteenth birthday.

"Nobody else. Just you. Promise you'll always wear it."

I was so happy that day. So fucking stupid.

I threw the box across the room. It hit the wall and fell.

I dragged myself to the bathroom. Looked in the mirror. I looked like absolute shit. Puffy eyes, red nose.

I washed my face with freezing water until my skin went numb. Piled on more makeup. Fixed my hair. When I finished, I looked almost normal.

I picked the necklace box up off the floor and shoved it in my purse.

The ceremony had already started when I got back.

I slipped through the side door and pressed against the back wall. Nobody saw me.

Owen and Mae stood in the middle holding hands. Her dress was white. Her smile was perfect.

My hand wrapped around the necklace box in my purse. The edges dug into my palm.

Owen leaned down and kissed Mae. Everyone clapped.

I watched from my corner in the dark. The happy couple on their bright stage, surrounded by flowers and people cheering.

My phone buzzed. Dad asking where I was.

In the ballroom. I'm fine.

On stage, Mae threw her arms around Owen's neck and kissed him again. Everyone cheered louder.

I squeezed the necklace box one more time.

Then let go.

I'd give Owen the necklace back, then leave him.