Chapter 3

I couldn't believe they could blame it all on me with straight faces.

Quinn was still trying to soothe me. "It's okay, Wren. We haven't seen each other in three months anyway, and you're sick. I'll make an exception this once and spend the next few days with you."

Maybe he felt guilty. Maybe that was why he'd offered to stay.

Chloe gave him an annoyed look and pushed him aside, then sat on the edge of my bed and gently helped me rest my head on her shoulder.

"God, you guys talk too much. Wren's sick. Stop giving her a hard time."

"Wren, a date with just Quinn would be boring anyway. Besides, we haven't spent time with you in ages. It's spring break. Pick anywhere you want to go."

"If any of them complain, I'll kick all their asses."

I leaned into Chloe the way I had countless times before.

But there was no comfort in it anymore.

Back in high school, she'd been my knight in shining armor.

If anyone mocked me or picked on me, she'd be the first to jump in. "Wren's my best friend. Nobody gets to mess with her!"

Now all I could see was that kiss at the proposal.

I closed my eyes.

I was too exhausted to accuse them of anything.

"I don't want to go out. Have fun without me."

She frowned. "Wren, I can't just leave you here alone. How about we have a party here, just the five of us, and watch some football?"

Ethan and Luke immediately agreed. "Sure. We'll head to the store now."

Chloe stood and looked at Quinn. "Quinn, stay here and take care of Wren."

His first instinct was to refuse.

He didn't want to be with me. He wanted to stay glued to Chloe.

Chloe gave him a discreet look. I saw the reluctance in his eyes before he gave in. "Okay. You guys go. I'll stay with Wren."

I didn't know whether I was supposed to be touched or laugh.

Once they left, Quinn put on a convincing act.

He sat on the edge of the bed, took off his ring, and set it on my nightstand. I caught a glimpse of the initials engraved inside—Quinn's and Chloe's.

"That's a nice ring, Quinn."

On Valentine's Day in freshman year, I'd asked how he would propose to me.

He'd smiled down at my hand, using his fingers to gauge my ring size. "I'll invite everyone who matters to you. I want them all there to see it. And I'll have our names engraved inside the ring. That's what will make it special."

He'd given all of that to Chloe.

Quinn snatched up the ring and closed his hand around it. Then he caught himself and regained his usual composure.

"Your brother insisted I wear it. He said all the guys on the team are wearing them now. I'll take it off if you don't like it. It gets in the way anyway."

His lies were so flimsy. Yet I'd never doubted him.

I was too numb to hurt anymore. "It's fine. Keep it on. It looks nice."

He relaxed, slipped the ring back on, and bent to tuck the covers around me.

"Okay. Thanks, Wren."

While he went to get water, I answered my advisor's email. He'd secured a three-year research project in Sydney.

He'd been urging me to join him and had even helped get my travel paperwork ready in advance. But I wanted to be with Quinn in Dallas after graduation, so I'd kept putting off my answer.

Now I emailed him back and said yes.

In three days, I'd be flying to Sydney with him.

I'd just finished listening to my advisor's voice message when Quinn suddenly asked:

"Wren, who's going to Sydney?"