Chapter 2

When I got upstairs, I started packing. I folded the clothes from my closet one by one and laid them in a suitcase, my hands moving on their own.

Until my fingers touched the velvet jewelry box at the very back.

I opened it. Inside was a necklace with an aquamarine pendant.

Ethan gave it to me in college, the day he told me he liked me.

He was so nervous that day he was sweating, stumbling over his words. "Chloe, I don't have any money right now. But I want to give you this little piece of the ocean first. I promise I'll take you to see the real thing someday."

I ran my thumb over the stone.

At the bottom of the drawer was a photo of the four of us, standing in front of a Gothic cathedral we'd visited on a college trip.

In the picture, Mia and Lucas were laughing like they didn't have a care in the world. Ethan had his arm around my shoulders.

I remembered that day. Lucas said he wanted to get married in a church someday. I said churches felt too heavy. I wanted the ocean.

Ethan pinched my cheek and laughed. "Okay, whatever you want. Someday the four of us will get married on an island together. Deal."

It's funny, actually. I'd daydreamed about the ocean so many times, but I'd never actually been. I wanted to keep it special.

I'd been stubborn about it. I wanted the first time I saw the ocean to be with him, in a wedding dress.

And now he was telling me, offhand, that beaches were crowded and boring.

I heard the front door open.

I shoved the necklace and the photo back where they'd been, went to the couch, and picked up the wedding dress catalog on the coffee table.

Ethan talked while he took his shoes off. "Tonight with Tiffany was a fluke. We had an emergency surgery at noon and she stood with me for six hours. Plus some stuff's going on with her family and she didn't want to go home, so I let her tag along."

It was a perfect excuse.

I nodded calmly. "Mm. I get it."

He looked relieved and went to take a shower.

Then my phone rang. It was the consultant from the bridal shop.

"Hi, Chloe! The dresses you and Mia picked out yesterday just came in. When would be a good time to come try them on? Will Ethan be able to make it too?"

She was loud.

The bathroom door opened. Ethan came out with a towel around his waist, his hair still dripping.

He'd obviously heard. The smile dropped off his face, and something tight and angry took its place.

"Chloe, why do you have to be so childish?" He frowned and came to stand over me. "Marriage takes two people. Have you ever once thought about how I feel?"

I hung up and looked up at him. "I just don't want to break a promise," I said quietly.

Ethan stared at me like he couldn't believe I'd dig my heels in.

He shook his head, and then he said something harsh. "This is ridiculous. I've spoiled you all these years, that's the problem. I don't have time to go to Hawaii. If you don't want to embarrass yourself, go return that dress tomorrow."

*  *  *

The next day, Ethan told me he was heading out of town for a month-long medical conference.

I knew he was avoiding me.

Lucas and Mia's wedding in Hawaii was a month away.

By the time he got back, it would all be over.

What I didn't expect was that he'd skip his best friend's wedding just to get out of it.

I drove him to the airport without saying much.

At security, Tiffany was already waiting with two enormous suitcases.

When she saw me, she gave me a dazzling smile. "Don't worry, Chloe. I'll take good care of the chief for you this month."

I smiled back and nodded. "Then I'll leave him to you from now on."

As Ethan turned toward the security line, I couldn't help calling out. "Ethan!"

He stopped and looked back at me across the crowd. Sunlight was pouring down through the airport's huge glass ceiling.

It was the same face. When had my boy gone so far away from me?

My eyes stung. I made myself smile and said softly, "Goodbye. For good."

The terminal was loud, and he didn't catch it. He waved, confused, and called out, "What?"

I didn't answer. I just waved, hard.

He frowned, like he sensed something, and hesitated, half turning back.

Tiffany tugged him from behind. "Come on, Chief, we're going to be late!"

He followed her, looking back at me over his shoulder as he went.

I kept smiling and watched them until I couldn't see them anymore.