Chapter 2

"Oh my *God*, Chloe, I'm so sorry! I totally didn't recognize you!"

Autumn presses her palms together. Praying hands. Big wet eyes.

Full performance.

Ryan dumps the bags in the kitchen. Won't look at me.

"Chloe. Babe. I didn't know you were coming home early. I was gonna tell you. This is Autumn. Intern at my firm."

He clears his throat.

"You know how it is. Interns barely make rent. She's from out of state. Couldn't afford food and a place. Slept at her desk a couple nights. I felt bad. So I let her crash here. Just temporary."

Just temporary.

Right.

Autumn's already setting up a hot pot on my counter.

She sticks her tongue out at me. Cutesy. Playful.

"He's telling the truth, I swear! Ry saved my butt. Chloe, hon, don't be mad at him, okay?"

She tilts her head.

"Actually — I was gonna throw him a little birthday dinner tonight. To say thanks. I can't really cook, so I just did hot pot. Easy, right?"

Beams at me.

"But now you're here! Even better! The three of us can eat together!"

She can't cook.

So who's been feeding him for six months?

She's throwing my fiancé a birthday dinner. In my kitchen. Wearing my apron.

Like she's the wife.

Six years.

Six years with this man.

He chased me for three of them in college. Flowers. Love notes. Waited outside my dorm in the rain like a lost puppy.

I finally said yes. Thought — okay. This one's real.

We got engaged. Picked a date. Sent the save-the-dates.

My parents bought us this penthouse. Fully paid. Move-in ready.

And now?

Now there's a twenty-two-year-old setting up hot pot in my kitchen.

My stomach twists.

Three months till the wedding.

And he pulls *this*.