Chapter 1 #2
The fact that Selena was marrying one of the richest men in the world came with a lot of perks, including hiring one of New
York’s best wedding planners. Knowing she had a ton of help made me feel slightly less terrible about being such a defunct
maid of honor, but right now Selena’s tense frame was making me nervous.
“And one of their family friends that’s coming is Francesca Cole. She’s some New York socialite they’ve known forever,” she
continued as one of the seamstresses gently pulled her hand from the delicate fabric and led her into the changing room.
There was a brief pause and some shuffling. A metallic zip from a garment bag filled the silence.
“And Francesca Cole obviously gets a plus-one . . .” Selena called from behind the door. A second later it began to open.
She reemerged in a simple blue dress and stilettos.
“Right . . .”
Selena looked around the room for a few seconds, then back to me, her eyes creased with guilt. “Her plus-one is Blake Thompson.”
My stomach hollowed. Static filled my ears.
“I asked Henry’s mom, and, apparently, he and Francesca are dating. They have been for a while.” Selena’s voice sounded suddenly
muffled in my ears, like I’d just walked out of a loud concert.
“He’s in New York?” I choked out when my lungs managed a breath. My mind reeled. Sharp green eyes filled the back of my vision, like my memory was pulling him into existence. “Since when?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice jumping up an octave. “I only noticed his name today when the planner gave me the
updated list.”
I nodded.
My entire world spun, every memory of Blake and me whipping past my vision. The day we met at orientation. Fooling around
in the campus library. The promises we made to each other in all the moments in between.
Our breakup, right when I finished medical school.
The one that only felt like a pause. And every time he was in town, we hit play.
My residency took me to New York. A start-up took him to Silicon Valley. But it never felt over. Whenever he visited, it was
like no time had passed.
Selena’s voice rang through what felt like being submerged in water. She sat down on the plush bench that flanked the dressing
podium. “I can uninvite the Coles. Henry won’t care.”
“Huh?” I took a quick breath, refusing to let my body show my inner reaction. I was in control; my stupid heart would fall
in line. “No, of course not. You can’t uninvite someone. And it’s okay. I’m not holding on to the same stupid ideas twenty-six-year-old
Isa had.”
It was a lie. Blake and I had always talked about how we’d pick back up once we became adults with fully realized lives, not immature college kids with big dreams. Now I was one fellowship acceptance letter away from that dream and Blake was . . .
My chest tightened.
I tried not to let myself picture the way I’d always imagined he would come back into my life, permanently. He’d move back.
We’d go to that little park for ice cream. We’d laze around on the weekends while he watched the Premier League. I’d finally
make that paella that was on my list of things to try for years.
He was supposed to be my one. The one that stuck. The one who understood my life, my ambitions. He had his dreams, too, and
once we both accomplished them, he’d be back, and we’d be the ultimate power couple together.
“Have you talked to him lately?” Selena asked hesitantly.
“Not for months,” I admitted. We saw each other last summer and it went the same as it always did. He took a cab from JFK
straight to my place, waiting there until the terrible hour I got back from work. Then we stayed entwined under my sheets
for days and swore that we’d never go that many months without seeing each other again.
“You deserve better.” Selena took hold of my hand. “I’m sorry.”
I could only nod because every single word I could think of got caught in my throat. My heart raced, and with every beat a
new question popped into my mind. When did he come back to Manhattan? Why didn’t he think to tell me? How long had he been
seeing someone? Someone important enough to accompany to a wedding?
We weren’t officially together, so we’d both had other relationships in the meantime, but not real ones. At least, I hadn’t. I didn’t have time. I had the occasional hookup because I always assumed one day it would be me and Blake.
“Isa . . .” Selena’s hand waved in front of my face; facets of light bounced off her diamond ring. “Say the word and Henry
will have him—”
I put my hand up and forced a laugh. Selena was getting way too used to having her rich fiancé’s influence at her fingertips.
“You two are slowly becoming the same person,” I said lightly. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, really.” I pulled my hands from hers and stood up. We got our things together and made our way to the door. “This is
your wedding. You shouldn’t worry about anything, especially not your maid of honor.”
“Please. I have an entire team taking care of every wedding detail.” She waved it off. “I am the opposite of stressed about
this wedding. I care about you.”
“I’m fine. Really.”
I knew she wouldn’t believe me.
My apartment was still littered with reminders of him. Of us. The photos of my med school graduation, his business school
graduation, my residency match day celebration—all of it. We were living our separate lives until we were the people we wanted
to be, but we always intended to come back together.
We were supposed to be together.
“You’re still going to that children’s benefit with me, right?” Selena took the cue to change the subject as we made our way out of the bridal shop. Her bodyguard, Drake, opened the door, did a quick scan of the street, then held it wider for us to exit. “It’s an auction.”
“Yes, of course.” I linked my arm in hers.
The last remnants of the cherry blossom petals whipped past us in the warm early-summer wind. I tried to focus on something
about the wedding, to not center myself in what was a huge night for her. The final fitting.
“Isa . . .” Selena yanked on my arm. “Come on. I know that look. Talk to me.”
I waited a beat and sighed. “I still have a plus-one to your wedding, right?”
“You can have a plus-fifty.” A devious smile slowly skated across her mouth. “Come to brunch if you can, sometime before we
all fly out to Paris,” Selena insisted. “We can put my future sister-in-law’s meddling skills to work and find the perfect
make-your-ex-jealous date.”
I laughed as the idea cemented into my mind. I could deal with how all of this felt later. For now I was going to deal with
how it looked. If Blake had moved on, then maybe I had, too.
I ignored the dull ache in my chest, because I was a woman in surgery. We didn’t break. Especially not over a guy.