Chapter4

In those two days, I took care of everything on my own.

Transfer paperwork. Class registration. Credit transfers. Housing wouldn't have an opening until February, so I called Aunt Leah, my mom's college roommate. She had a spare room in Brooklyn. When she heard I was coming, she cried on the phone.

"Sweetheart, you should've come a long time ago."

My flight was Saturday morning. The same day as Grayson's proposal.

I didn't pick the date. It just happened that way.

Friday night, I started packing.

After five years at the Hales', I had more stuff than I thought. Most of it was gifts from Grayson.

The bracelet from my sixteenth birthday. The camera from my high school graduation. The Christmas sweaters, one every year, folded and stacked on the top shelf of my closet. And the gray hoodie with his college's name on it—the one he'd tossed to me sophomore year without a second thought. I'd worn the cuffs until they pilled.

I didn't take a single thing.

I packed just two suitcases: clothes, books, my laptop, and my parents' photo.

When I was done, I sat down at my desk and wrote the Hales a letter.

They were spending the winter in Florida this week and flying back Saturday for the proposal. I didn't plan to say goodbye in person. I was afraid that the moment I opened my mouth, I wouldn't be able to get the words out.

Dear Diane and Richard,

Thank you for giving me a home when I needed one most. In these five years, you never once made me feel like an outsider.

I got into Kingsley as a transfer, and I've decided to go to New York to finish college. I'm leaving in a hurry, and I'm sorry I couldn't tell you in person.

I'll call you once I'm there. I love you.

Wren

I left the letter on the kitchen island, tucked under Diane's favorite coffee mug.

Back in my room, I picked up the calendar on my nightstand and drew an X through January 15th.

Next to it, I wrote two words: "Leaving day."

Early Saturday morning, before the sun was up, I went to the cemetery first.

I laid a big bouquet of white lilies in front of my parents' headstone, crouched down, and wiped the frost off the stone with my sleeve.

"Mom, Dad, I'm going to New York. You always said you hoped I'd go see more of the world."

"I might not be able to come back and visit for a long time. But I promise, from now on, I'm going to live for myself."

I sat there for a long time, until the sun came up.

Then I dragged my suitcases to the airport.

As the plane took off, I turned my head and looked out the window.

Beneath the clouds, the city I'd lived in for twenty-one years got smaller and smaller.

Grayson, this is where it ends.

From now on, my life is going to be nothing but clear skies.

At the same time, in the ballroom at the country club.

Friends, classmates, relatives from both families—everyone was there. The room was full of white roses and a champagne tower. The photography crew was adjusting the lights, and one of Sloane's influencer friends had already gone live.

Grayson wore a sharp suit, the ring box in his pocket, and he was busy dealing with a reporter from a local lifestyle magazine.

But his mind wasn't there at all.

His eyes kept darting toward the door, like he was waiting for someone.

Jake could tell something was off and pulled him aside.

"Bro, you're proposing to Sloane today. You've wanted this for years. If you keep zoning out like this, something's gonna go wrong."

Grayson didn't seem to hear him. He pressed his lips together.

"Where's Wren? Have you seen her?"

"It's almost time. Why isn't she here yet?"

Jake didn't know what to say for a second.

"Dude, seriously? You're still worried about her right now?"

"If she doesn't come, she doesn't come. It's not like it makes a difference either way."

"Besides, you're proposing to Sloane today. She probably doesn't want to watch. That's normal."

Grayson couldn't explain why, but he just felt uneasy.

He finally pulled out his phone and called her.

It didn't ring once. It went straight to voicemail.

He called a few more times. Same thing every time.