Chapter 1

Five minutes before the application deadline, my boyfriend finally sent over that college list.

[Said I'd send it before the deadline. Stop nagging]

[I'm busy as hell and still gotta deal with your drama queen ass]

But—filling out my applications was HIS idea.

I opened his "carefully curated" document.

A bunch of random community colleges.

I froze.

1560 SAT score.

And in Asher's eyes, I only deserved trash schools.

My phone pinged, snapping me back.

The new transfer girl posted.

Some Pop Mart figurine.

Caption: "Crush stayed up all week coding this just for me~"

Asher's comment: "Anything for my girl. ❤️"

So he tanked my future to clear the path for hers.

WRONG MOVE.

Keep your crappy list for your new girl—I'm headed to Northwestern.

...

"Nora, dinner's ready. Made your favorite wings."

I took a deep breath and shut my laptop.

At the table, Dad put a wing on my plate.

"Asher looked over your college apps, right?"

"Your mom and I don't know this stuff, so we sent him 500 bucks to help you out."

"With your scores, you should be able to stay in Connecticut."

My fork froze mid-air.

"Dad, he took the money?"

"Yeah. Even promised he'd pick the best school for you."

"Asher has always been a reliable kid."

"With him helping you, your mom and I can finally relax."

I finished dinner in a rush and called Asher the second I got back to my room.

"What now?"

What now?

Ever since I first heard Brielle's name from his mouth, those words were all he ever said to me.

I dug my nails into my palm, trying to stay calm.

"Asher, why'd you take my dad's money?"

"That's why you're calling?"

His voice was so casual it hurt.

I bit down hard. "Yeah. That's why."

"Brielle accidentally clicked accept."

"If your family needs the money that bad, I'll send it back to you, okay?"

If my family needs the money that bad?!

HE was the one who offered to help with my applications.

HE was the one who promised my dad he'd look out for me.

And what did he do?

Threw me a list of trash schools.

"Babe, help me, their ADC is chasing me down—"

I couldn't hold it in anymore.

Just as I was about to snap at him, the call ended.

Called again.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable."

I didn't sleep all night.

What I got instead was a Brielle's new post.

"New esports hotel, tested it for you guys, soundproofing's amazing, crush was SO amazing last night~"

The background showed a hotel bed.

A black sports watch resting on fishnet stockings.

The same one I'd bought him.

Spent my entire sophomore summer handing out flyers under the burning sun.

Just because Asher said he wanted it.

My skin even peeled from the heat.

And Asher was the first like on her post.

I calmly scrolled to her profile and hit unfollow.

Then switched to my train ticket and requested a refund.

Finally, I sent Asher a message.

[Still waiting on that $500.]

Chapter 2

I didn't get Asher's transfer until the afternoon.

Almost blocked him right then.

But our families have always been close.

I hesitated, then just muted his notifications instead.

As I was about to exit, two new messages popped up.

"The hotel's booked."

"Didn't you say you wanted to meet my college friends?"

"I'll take you to dinner tomorrow night."

"Sending you the hotel address. Just Uber there when you arrive."

"Soundproofing's decent, sleep well."

The location was the same esports hotel Brielle had posted about.

His tone felt like charity.

I didn't reply.

Didn't mention I'd already canceled my train ticket either.

Truth is, I didn't care about his college friends.

I just hated that he never posted about me.

At dinner, Asher actually video called me for once.

"Nora, it's Asher calling."

"Must be important, go ahead and answer."

I didn't want my parents to worry.

Went back to my room and picked up.

On screen, Asher looked half-asleep. Hair all messy.

"Why didn't you reply to my messages?"

"Didn't see them."

He frowned, ran his hand through his hair, waiting for me to say something.

I looked down.

The silence stretched.

Then he got annoyed.

"Are you mad at me again?"

"I already sent the money, what's your problem now?"

"Can you be more like Brielle? Just be happy for once."

"You're always starting drama. Who can deal with this?"

I bit my lip hard. My eyes started burning.

His phone buzzed.

He looked down, started typing.

Whatever the other person said made him smile.

That annoyed look from talking to me? Gone.

I didn't need to guess. Had to be Brielle.

Something in me snapped.

"Asher Kane."

"Don't worry. I won't ever get mad at you again."

Click.

A few seconds later, Asher video called again.

I declined.

He called again.

I took a breath and switched to voice only.

"Okay okay, my bad, alright?"

"I've been so tired lately, and I still had to pick schools for you."

"Nora, just cut me some slack."

His exhausted sigh echoed through the phone.

I suddenly thought about Brielle's post.

Yeah. He must be so tired.

Staying up all night coding her figurines.

Staying up all night with her at hotels.

Then spending five minutes throwing a trash college list for me.

Must be exhausting.

But before Brielle showed up, he wasn't like this.

When I bombed a test, he'd video call me and help me review.

When I was upset, he'd drive back from New Haven with my favorite cakes.

I couldn't help myself.

"Asher. Who were you with last night."

He paused. His voice got evasive.

"No one. I was in my dorm."

I let out a bitter laugh.

"I'm gonna go eat."

Back at the table, Mom noticed something was wrong.

"Nora, what happened? Did you and Asher fight?"

Dad put down his fork, looking worried.

I shook my head. Saw the gray in their hair.

My nose started stinging.

They'd always wanted me to stay close to home.

Said it'd be easie for me to come home.

They could visit me too.

A few bites later, I couldn't hold it in anymore.

My tears fell straight into my bowl.

"Dad, Mom. I applied to schools out west."

They went quiet for a second.

Then tried to sound unbothered.

"Out west is fine, sweetie. Don't cry."

"Planes exist, you know. We'll just fly out to see you."

After I finally calmed down, Mom's phone buzzed.

She answered the video call.

Mrs. Kane looked thrilled.

"Carol! My boy's been hiding a girlfriend."

"His cousin saw his Instagram post."

"I'll send you the picture. The girl is so pretty and sweet-looking."

I opened Asher's Instagram.

The page wouldn't load.

He blocked me.

Mom hung up and handed me her phone, teasing.

"When you and Asher were little, he said he'd marry you someday."

"Look at him now, already got a girlfriend."

In the photo, Asher's face was covered in lipstick marks.

His cheek pressed against Brielle's.

Their fingers intertwined.

Chapter 3

[I'll pick you up at the hotel at 5.]

I didn't reply.

Opened my tablet and tried to distract myself with a game.

5:05.

My phone kept buzzing. I turned it off.

5:10. Mom knocked on my door, holding her phone.

"Nora, sweetie, Asher can't reach you."

I pressed my lips together. Made up an excuse.

"Phone died."

Mom repeated it into the phone.

On the other end, Asher forced down the anger.

"Mrs. Hartley, please tell Nora to check her phone."

"I need to talk to her about something."

After Mom left to start dinner, I turned my phone back on.

Asher's call came through immediately.

I answered.

For the first time, I didn't even bother checking his messages.

"Nora, why didn't you tell me you weren't coming?"

My voice stayed flat. "Forgot."

Asher tightened his grip on the phone.

"You're unbelievable."

"Asher, the room's non-refundable now. Should we just go tonight?"

Hearing Brielle's unfinished sentence, Asher frowned.

He was about to explain something, but then stopped.

I stayed silent too.

Finally spoke up.

"Asher. Let's break up."

On the other end, his mood suddenly lifted.

"I'll come back in a two days."

I tossed my phone onto the bed.

Pulled out the box from under my bed.

Started gathering everything that had anything to do with Asher.

Last thing was a journal. All our memories written inside.

I glanced at the date, opened it and wrote one last line.

"I hope you're happy."

Stared at it for a long time.

Then crossed it out.

The pen dug so hard it left marks on the next page.

I closed it and put it in the box with everything else.

Two days later, Asher came back.

His mom suddenly called and invited us over for dinner.

I wanted to say no.

But I didn't want Mom to notice something was off.

So I just changed into a hoodie and went.

My mom and Mrs. Kane have been best friends since childhood.

Our families visited each other all the time.

Which is why they've always kept a pair of slippers for me at their place.

But when I arrived, Mrs. Kane handed me disposable shoe covers.

"Nora, Asher's girlfriend is here."

"This boy didn't even give me a heads-up. Just use these for today, okay?"

"I'll get that girl a new pair tomorrow."

The living room was packed.

Asher was there.

So was Brielle.

Mom went to help in the kitchen. Dad got pulled away by Mr. Kane.

I looked at the full couch. Stood there frozen.

Asher glanced over once.

Then went right back to gaming with Brielle.

Dinner felt endless.

Finally, it was over.

Mrs. Kane came out holding a envelope.

"Brielle, this is my welcome gift for you."

$10,001.

One in a million.

It meant she had accepted Brielle as the future daughter-in-law.

I looked down at my phone. Said nothing.

Brielle smiled and glanced at Asher.

Asher glanced at me for a few seconds. His face darkened.

Then he spoke, deliberately indulgent.

"My mom gave it to you. Just take it."

My phone screen went black. Timed out.

I tapped it awake and swiped to the next page.