Ch. Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 38 Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 38

Chapter 6 

There was a time like that. 

Two months straight where Cade was barely home. 

Every time he came back he looked exhausted. 

His voice dropped. 

“But then… the tour prep started. You recommended her to handle the band’s PR. I couldn’t avoid her anymore.” 

I actually laughed. 

“So you’re saying this is MY fault? If I hadn’t gotten her that job, you two wouldn’t have gotten together?” 

He looked at me. Hesitated. 

“No. That’s not what I meant. This is all on me…” 

“One day she came to talk to me. Said she didn’t want things to be weird anymore. Said for your sake, she wanted to 

let it go. She said we should bury the past and just move forward like nothing happened.” 

“I thought that sounded good. Clear the air, keep it professional going forward.” 

His voice got quieter. 

“We had a few drinks that night. I don’t know how it… just…” 

He didn’t finish. 

Riley came running up. 

“Maya, I know you’re angry. I know I did something awful.” 

“But you have to believe me-I never wanted to hurt you. At least… I wasn’t planning to keep lying forever” 

Her words made my whole body shake. 

“So I should THANK you?” 

She wiped her face. 

“Maya, I really did want to stay friends. We’ve always liked the same things since we were kids, we’d always match everything…” 

I stared at her in disbelief. 

Chapter 6 

Then I slapped her. 

My hand was still shaking. 

How dare she say that to me. 

Fall of sixth grade, she transferred into my class. 

As the new kid, no one wanted to play with her. 

Plus there were rumors going around that her mom broke up someone’s marriage. 

After the guy ditched them, they had to move and transfer schools. 

Everyone said she was bad luck. 

But I always saw her sitting alone under the tree at recess. 

Every time she tried talking to someone, they’d back away. 

So when she got bullied for the first time, I stepped in. 

I became her friend. Convinced the other kids to accept her. 

I went around explaining to everyone that she wasn’t some unwanted kid. 

In middle school we were in the same building, different classes. She’d wait outside my classroom every day after 

school. 

In high school we snuck out to the roof to watch a meteor shower. She was freezing so I gave her my jacket. 

In college we were in different cities-over a thousand miles apart-but we’d still fly out to celebrate each other’s birthdays. 

Now, I looked at her. 

“Riley.” 

Her eyes were red. 

“You make me fucking sick.” 

Then I forced out the last thing I had to say. 

“As far as I’m concerned, I never knew you.” 

15.54 

Chapter 6 

Her face went white. 

I didn’t look at her again. I walked over to Cade and pulled off my wedding ring. 

Threw it in his face. 

Then I left. 

All I wanted was to get as far away from them as possible. 

The wind hit me outside. Cold. 

That’s when I realized my face was soaked. 

I stood there on the curb watching the cars go by. 

My phone buzzed. 

I glanced down. Message from Riley. 

(I’m sorry.) 

A cab pulled up. I got in. 

“Where to?” 

I opened my mouth and realized I didn’t know. 

The place I’d lived for three years wasn’t my home anymore. 

Then it hit me. 

I did have a home. 

“Airport, please.” 

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