Chapter 5

The next morning, Matthew's friends were already gathered at his apartment when Jessica finally emerged from the bedroom.

She was wearing a loose T-shirt and had clearly only just woken up. Her hair was a mess, and she paused in the doorway to stifle a yawn.

The room went quiet for half a second. Then everyone started grinning.

"Well, look who finally decided to join us," one of the guys said.

Another glanced from Jessica to Matthew. "Should we ask how your night went, or would that be too personal?"

Jessica's cheeks colored. She tugged at the hem of the shirt and rolled her eyes.

"Can you all grow up? Matthew and I are just friends. I had too much to drink last night, so he let me stay here. That's it."

"Sure," someone said, drawing the word out. "Just friends."

Matthew didn't join in. He sat on the couch, turning his phone over in his hand, looking entirely unbothered. The others eventually lost interest in teasing Jessica and turned to the question they'd all come to discuss.

"So, what time do you think Lauren will show up?"

"I've got four o'clock," one of them said. "The courthouse closes at five. If she wants to marry Matthew today, she'll have to get there before then."

A man across the room laughed. "Four? You're giving her too much credit. I'll say noon. She'll crack before lunch and call him herself."

"Not a chance," another friend said. "She won't even make it to noon. A chance to marry into the Sullivan family doesn't come along every day."

The room filled with laughter.

Matthew let them talk. He didn't need to join the betting to know how this would end.

Seven years. He and Lauren had been involved for seven years, and in all that time she'd never truly been able to stay away from him.

Even after their breakup two years ago, she'd answered whenever he called.

They might have gone months without seeing each other, but if he reached out, she responded.

Yesterday had been ugly, but he was convinced she'd eventually come to her senses. She was upset. She wanted him to understand how much she'd been hurt.

Fine. He could give her a little time. But she wouldn't throw away the chance to marry him.

If Lauren showed up today and stopped making things difficult, Matthew would marry her. He had his ID ready. All they had to do was go to the courthouse and take care of the paperwork.

It wasn't her money he was worried about. He had more than enough, and he had never minded spending it.

What he couldn't stand was the thought that someone might be with him for his last name or his bank account rather than for him.

He wanted to know that Lauren loved him, not the life he could provide.

That was why he'd agreed to the tests. At least, that was the explanation he'd given himself.

The morning passed. People checked their phones, made jokes, and kept glancing toward the door.

Matthew stayed where he was, occasionally looking at the time but refusing to show any impatience.

Then noon came and went.

Lauren hadn't called.

By two, the conversation had started to thin out. Matthew checked his phone again. Still nothing.

At three, he finally dialed her number.

The call wouldn't connect.

He frowned and tried again. The same result.

A tight feeling settled in his chest. Lauren had never ignored his calls. Not once in all the years he'd known her.

Even after they'd broken up, she'd always picked up if he called about something important.

He stood so suddenly that the people around him looked up.

"Where are you going?" Jessica asked.

"Lauren isn't answering." He grabbed his keys. "I'm going to find her."

Jessica caught his arm. "Are you serious? You're going to run after her now?"

"Let go, Jess."

She folded her arms, giving him a look that suggested he was being ridiculous.

"This is exactly what she wants. She's waiting for you to panic. The minute you go chasing after her, she'll know she's got you right where she wants you."

Matthew looked at her, jaw tight.

"She's not answering her phone."

"Because she's trying to make you desperate," Jessica said. "She wants you to come crawling after her and offer her something more. Don't hand her that victory."

The others immediately backed her up.

"She's playing a game, man."

"Don't let her set the rules. If you go running every time she ignores you, she'll do it for the rest of your marriage."

"Jess is right. She's betting you'll cave because you're in love with her."

Matthew looked down at his phone. Every instinct told him to leave, to find Lauren and make sure she was all right.

But Jessica's words got under his skin. What if this was another test? What if he went looking for her and proved that she could make him do whatever she wanted?

His grip on the phone tightened.

Then, slowly, he put his keys back on the table and sat down.

The room settled into an uneasy silence. The jokes had stopped. Everyone kept checking the time.

They were still waiting when the front door suddenly flew open.

Ryan stood in the doorway, his face tense and his breathing hard. He looked straight at Matthew.

"Matthew. Lauren's gone."