Chapter 5

I watched as Callum took Briar's hand and led her toward the stage.

For a moment, I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing.

He actually signed them up.

The host welcomed them with a grin, handed them their contestant numbers, and explained the rules.

When the whistle blew, Briar immediately wrapped her arms around Callum's neck.

Her cheeks turned pink.

The crowd started cheering.

"Kiss her! Kiss her!"

Callum hesitated for barely a second.

Then he slipped an arm around Briar's waist, cupped the back of her head, and kissed her.

I stood on the sidewalk, watching the man I'd planned to marry make out with another woman in front of a cheering crowd.

When they finally separated, Briar was smiling so hard she could barely contain herself.

Someone nearby laughed.

"They must be newlyweds. Look at them!"

Another woman clasped her hands together.

"Oh my God, they're adorable! You can tell they're crazy about each other."

"I hope they stay together forever!"

I looked away.

A memory surfaced before I could stop it.

A few years ago, I'd asked Callum to take some pictures with me at a photo booth during a weekend trip.

He'd refused.

"Come on, Maren. We're adults. We don't need to do every silly thing couples do on social media."

I'd felt embarrassed for asking.

He'd told me relationships weren't about childish displays of affection, and I'd eventually agreed.

But apparently, those things weren't childish when Briar wanted them.

He just hadn't wanted to do them with me.

I turned to leave.

Unfortunately, Callum looked in my direction at that exact moment.

Our eyes met.

His smile vanished.

He immediately loosened his hold on Briar and stepped away from her.

"Maren?"

He looked startled.

Before he could say anything else, Briar followed his gaze.

"Oh! Maren!"

She hurried toward me, wearing that familiar innocent smile.

"What a coincidence! What are you doing here?"

Then she glanced at Callum.

"Wait. You weren't following us, were you?"

Callum's expression changed instantly.

He walked over, his face darkening.

"Maren, seriously? Are you following me now?"

I stared at him.

"No. I had a meeting nearby. I was just passing through."

He scoffed.

"A meeting? What kind of meeting?"

"Work."

"You don't have a job anymore."

I almost laughed.

"That doesn't mean I stopped having a life." Callum frowned. "Don't lie to me. You show up wherever I go, and I'm supposed to believe it's a coincidence?"

He shook his head in disappointment.

"After all these years, I can't believe you trust me so little."

I glanced toward the stage.

The host was already calling up the next couple.

"Trust you?"

"Yes, Maren. Trust. It's supposed to be the foundation of a relationship." He folded his arms. "Following me around like this is completely inappropriate. It's an invasion of my privacy."

I didn't bother arguing. "Whatever you say."

His eyes narrowed.

"And if this is how you're going to behave, I might need to reconsider the wedding."

There it was again.

The wedding.

His favorite new bargaining chip.

He'd spent years refusing to marry me. Now he acted as if the possibility of becoming his wife was something he could dangle over my head whenever I displeased him.

He really had no idea how little I wanted it anymore.

"Save yourself the trouble," I said. "You should marry Briar instead. You two certainly looked convincing up there."

Callum's face tightened.

Briar quickly stepped between us.

"Maren, please don't misunderstand!"

She reached for my arm, but I moved away.

"I just really wanted to win the prize, and Callum was nice enough to help me."

She looked genuinely concerned.

"It didn't mean anything. Please don't be upset."

I knew exactly what she was doing.

She wanted me to get angry.

To make a scene.

To demand an explanation while Callum stood there defending her.

A few months ago, I probably would have done exactly that.

I'd have spent hours arguing with him, desperately trying to make him understand why his behavior hurt me.

But I didn't have the energy anymore. And I certainly didn't have the interest.

"Briar, relax. Callum and I are over."

Her smile faltered.

"You don't have to explain anything to me. You can kiss him, sleep with him, marry him. I really don't care."

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Briar looked almost disappointed.

Callum, on the other hand, looked furious.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said."

"I already explained what happened. Why do you have to twist everything into something ugly?"

I looked at him.

"Callum, I don't need an explanation."

"Then stop making sarcastic comments!"

I was getting tired of standing there.

"Are we done?"

He stared at me as though he couldn't understand why I wasn't fighting with him.

Briar slipped her hand around his arm again.

"Callum, maybe we should just go. Maren's obviously still upset."

I almost corrected her.

Then I decided it wasn't worth the effort.

I walked around them and headed home.

Neither of them followed.

By the time I reached my condo, I'd nearly forgotten about the encounter.

I made myself a cup of tea, changed into comfortable clothes, and settled onto the couch.

Then my phone started buzzing.

Callum.

I ignored the first message.

A second came almost immediately.

Then a third.

I finally picked up my phone.

Callum: Maren, why did you move out?

Callum: You've taken this tantrum far enough.

Callum: Stop being childish and come home.