Chapter 2
The next morning at seven, the doorbell rang three times.
Emma had already been awake but hadn't immediately answered. She sat on the living room floor surrounded by moving checklists, a Boston map, and two California coast travel itineraries.
Caleb's familiar voice came from outside.
"I know you're in there. The blueberry scones are getting cold."
Since she was fourteen, whenever they fought, he'd go to the corner shop and buy her favorite breakfast. Emma used to take it as proof that he remembered everything she loved. Only now did she realize — he remembered how to calm her down, but had never truly listened to why she was upset in the first place.
She opened the door.
Caleb walked in carrying the paper bag, set the coffee in her usual spot as naturally as though last night's breakup had never happened.
"How's Sloane?" Emma asked.
His motion paused.
"Her uncle picked her up. The car owner's willing to go through insurance. The police are still investigating."
"So she'll have to answer for her actions."
"Emma, let's not talk about her today." Caleb sat across from her and pushed the scone forward. "Everyone had been drinking last night. Emotions were running high. I'm not holding what you said against you."
Emma looked up. "But I am."
Caleb was silent for a moment, then pulled two printed itineraries from his pocket.
"We're leaving for the graduation trip three days early. San Francisco first, then south down Highway 1. I booked the beach cabin you've always wanted to see."
Emma looked at the route map.
They'd been planning this trip for two full years. She'd even circled every bay she wanted to stop at, imagining they'd discuss their new Boston life there — courses, housing, even a wedding after graduation.
Caleb placed a set of car keys on the map.
"These few days belong to just us. I promise — I won't take Sloane's calls or reply to her messages. After the trip, we'll pack up and move together."
"Why are you only deciding to ignore her now?"
"Because you care so much about this."
"I've cared for three years."
"But you used to understand." He frowned. "Emma, I always thought you were different. You wouldn't force me to abandon someone in crisis just because you were jealous of a friend."
She finally understood. His so-called apology was still built on the same foundation.
Not that he thought he'd done wrong — but that this time, she hadn't continued being understanding.
Seeing her silence, Caleb softened his tone again.
"I admit I didn't handle last night well. I just panicked. Sloane was crying like that — I couldn't just ignore her."
"So the first solution you thought of was to sacrifice me."
"I already said — it wouldn't have destroyed you."
"That's the problem." Emma looked at him. "You always assess how much I can take first, then decide how much to take from me."
Caleb opened his mouth but didn't answer.
Morning light fell across the travel map on the table. The coastline looked like a long fracture.
Emma could have refused right then. But eighteen years of memories weighed too much — enough that she still wanted one final answer.
Not to give Caleb a chance. To confirm whether this relationship was truly beyond saving.
She picked up the itinerary.
"All right. I'll go."
Caleb visibly relaxed and reached for her hand. "I knew you wouldn't really leave."
Emma pulled her hand back.
"But there are conditions. During the trip, you don't change plans because of Sloane. No lies. And you don't make me take on any more consequences for her."
"I promise." He answered without hesitation. "This time it's just us."
After he left, Emma didn't touch the blueberry scone.
She opened the airline website and checked flights from Seattle direct to Boston, then separately flagged the check-in email for MIT's new student research project.
Only after finishing all that did she fold the California travel map.
Caleb thought her accepting the trip meant accepting his apology.
Only Emma knew — she wasn't turning back.
She just needed to see, with her own eyes, whether he would choose her one last time before she truly left.
