Chapter 2

Ryan looked thoroughly fed up.

"This again? Even eight years together can't survive you throwing fits like this."

I didn't say anything. I turned and got into a rideshare.

What Ryan didn't know was that the blind date my mom had set up, Lucas Whitmore, was my first love.

Back then, his family had arranged for him to study abroad, and the two of us were forced apart.

Now he was the hottest rising star at Denver's orthopedic hospital. He was away on an international medical exchange program and would be back in the country the day after tomorrow.

The next day, I flew out to the San Juan Mountains ahead of time.

While I was wandering around on the mountain, I spotted Ryan and Chloe in the distance, holding each other in front of Twin Shadows Falls.

Jake was holding up a reflector, and Hayden was filming beside them.

It suddenly came back to me. Eight years ago, Ryan had shown me a photo of these falls that he'd saved:

"Sades, look. These two waterfalls, one in shadow and one in light, crash together in midair and end up as one river. They call it Eternal Lovers' Falls."

"Once the club's up and running, we're definitely coming here to shoot our video."

The video got shot, all right. Just with someone else.

When he saw it was me, Ryan gave a sarcastic smile.

"Sades, weren't you not coming?"

Jake covered his mouth.

"She must've seen the group chat and come out here on purpose to make up."

Hayden spread his hands.

"Even if you came, you'll have to entertain yourself. Ry's got to shoot a couple vlog with Chlo."

I listened quietly. It was almost funny.

I'd muted the five-person group chat a long time ago. Running into them here was pure coincidence.

When she saw I was about to leave, Chloe called after me.

"Sades, don't get the wrong idea. This is a brand sponsorship vlog."

"The client insisted Ry and I make the best match. There was nothing I could do."

I didn't stop walking. I just waved a hand.

"Go ahead, carry on."

Ryan stepped up and blocked my way.

"Chlo already explained it to you. What's with the attitude?"

"Fine. When we do the zipline over the river, we'll shoot another vlog for you to use as our wedding video. Happy now?"

I looked him straight in the face.

"Ryan, we've already broken up. I'm not marrying you."

"And even if I shoot a video, it won't be with you."

As I spoke, Jake and Hayden came over too.

"Sades, are you addicted to this or something? Every single time, you're the one who ruins everyone's mood."

"The four of us always have to bend over backward for you?"

"Is that right? Well, you won't have to anymore."

I held up my phone.

The last message in the group chat stood out painfully. Chloe had sent it.

"My luggage won't fit. The car only seats five, so it can only take four people. What do we do?"

Right after it, Ryan had tagged me: "You're the one who isn't coming, so don't give Chlo a hard time about it later."

It didn't hurt as much as I'd expected.

My eyes slid right past those two messages, and without a second thought I tapped Leave Group.

Ryan's face went dark. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the zipline platform.

"Haven't you made enough of a scene?"

"I never agreed to break up, so nobody's breaking up. If I say we're shooting, we're shooting."

I fought him with everything I had.

"Ryan, let go of me!"

He acted like he hadn't heard a word. He clipped us into the couples' tandem lock, strapping us tightly together.

Chloe clipped on her own safety buckle and raised her eyebrows.

"Sades, what are you scared of? I'll show you how it's done."

She shot off with a whoosh. Halfway across the river, she suddenly swayed, and her body tipped toward the water.

"Ryan, help!"

Before I could even react, Ryan had already unhooked the clip connecting us and was sliding toward Chloe.

The weight balance gave out instantly. The steel cable shook violently, and I was flung off and slammed hard into the rock face on the far bank.

Bang!

My left leg hit the rock, and the pain spread out like a crack running through the bone.

It took me a long time to steady myself, and I couldn't stop shaking. In the distance, Chloe was leaning in Ryan's arms, her voice tearful.

"It's all my fault. I was only trying to show her how."

Jake and Hayden soon crowded around her too.

The three of them scrambled to carry Chloe down the mountain, and none of them looked at me again.

As I lay sprawled on the zipline platform, struggling to free myself, I heard Ryan comforting Chloe:

"It's not your fault. It's all because Sades is such a coward that you got hurt."