She gave me a sweet smile and pulled out a
pink scarf, identical to mine except for the
color. Same size, same style, same little teddy
bear.
“Oh, that’s okay, Evie. Jake already gave me
the best birthday present.”
I felt a chill run down my spine as I stared at
the scarf.
I looked at Jake, my face falling. He just gave
Summer a sheepish smile.
“Don’t get upset, Evie. Summer saw your
scarf a while back, knew I made it, and
begged me to make her one.”
“I figured, her birthday was coming up…‘
Summer looked at me with wide, innocent
eyes.
“You’re not mad, are you Evie? I just thought
this scarf would look so good on me.”
<
She wrapped the scarf around her neck, her
eyes sparkling as she looked at Jake.
I forced a smile, trying to ignore the nausea
churning in my stomach. “Mad? Why would I
be mad?”
I reached up and yanked the scarf off my own
neck, pulling it so hard my skin stung.
Completely unfazed, I walked up to Jake and
carefully wrapped the scarf around his neck.
Then I smiled. “See? You both look even
better wearing them together. You guys are
perfect for each other.”
Jake frowned, annoyed. He took the scarf off
and held it out to me.
Г
“Evie, don’t start. It’s Summer’s birthday.”
I didn’t take it.
It wasn’t one–of–a–kind anymore, just like
- me.
I looked at Jake, my expression calm. “I’m not
starting anything, Jake. Happy ever after, you
two. Is that good enough?”
Without waiting for an answer, I turned and
left.
Weird. The snow had stopped, but I felt
colder than ever.
Jake came home later that night with a
necklace.
L
It was the latest designer piece, expensive
and beautiful.
But not really my style.
He reeked of sugary frosting, it was making
me sick.
“Don’t be mad, Evie. I only think of Summer
as a little sister.”
Jake was an orphan, grew up in a group
home.
Summer’s mom ran the place. They’d been
best friends since they were kids.
Until Summer’s dad took her overseas when
she was fifteen.
“Evie, you’re the one I love. You believe me,
right?”
He wrapped his arms around me from behind,
his body warm against my back.
I used to believe him, without question.
But right now, I wasn’t so sure.
I took the necklace without a word and went
to the bathroom.
When I came out, Jake was sitting on the
couch, looking relaxed as he talked on the
phone.
“You women always understand each other.
Summer, Evie’s totally fine now.”
“Yeah, Evie’s great, but she gets jealous so easily. Cut her some slack, okay?”
I stood there, listening to their conversation,
my fists clenched.
When did Jake and I become like this?
When did our relationship turn into a game of
secrets?
I didn’t have an answer. Glancing at the
necklace lying on the dresser, I walked over
and tossed it in the trash.
The stomach pain kept me up all night.
Hearing Jake breathing softly beside me, I
fought back the urge to cry out in pain.
A flash of light caught my eye.
It was the necklace, glinting in the trash.
Like my own silent tears.
I drifted into a restless sleep, dreaming I was
eighteen again.
Back then, I was a goody–two–shoes, the
pride of my parents, teachers, everyone.
Jake was just a dropout, a bit of a
troublemaker.
We lived in separate worlds, until fate threw
us together.
That summer, I found Jake in an alley near
school, beat up after a fight.
He was sitting on the ground, his white T-
shirt stained red.
He looked up at me, his face bruised and
bloody, but still handsome.
I reached out to help him up, but he told me
to get lost.
His face was pale from blood loss, but I
couldn’t help but approach.
I helped him up, and we went to the hospital.
I watched the doctor patch him up, paid for
his treatment, then turned to leave.
He watched me from the bed.
“Jake,” he said quietly.
I nodded, signaling I understood.
As I turned to leave, his voice rang out.
“What’s yours?”
“Evie. Evie Miller.”
That was how we met.
Then, one day after school, some local thugs
cornered me in the same alley.
Jake saved me.
He even paid me back for the hospital bill.
For days, he made a point of waiting for me
<
in the alley.
Making sure those guys knew I was under his
protection, untouchable.
After that, we got to know each other.
I’d bring him lunch, he’d walk me home.
My parents found out and told me to stay
away from him.
For once in my life, I didn’t listen.
Not like all the times that followed.
It was my friends‘ get–together that day, and
I was running late due to my chemo at the
hospital.
They were already playing a game when I got
there.
Truth or dare.
Summer was there too, and she chose truth.
“Is there anyone in this room you’re interested
in?”
Summer blushed scarlet.
She bit her lip and gave Jake a shy glance
before nodding slowly.
Acting like I wasn’t even there.
It was obvious as hell.
My whole body ached after the chemo, and I
was shaking.
I looked at Jake, my face pale.
Jake responded gently, “Summer, behave.”
He looked at Summer affectionately, without
a hint of irritation in his voice.
Summer liked him, and he knew it.
He didn’t want to hurt Summer, but he had no
qualms about repeatedly hurting me.
My turn came quickly.
I also chose truth.
“Do you regret falling in love with Jake?”
Jake’s smile vanished, and he glared at the
person who had asked the question.
Someone tried to smooth things over: “What
a question to ask. She ran away with him.
Why would she regret?”
I forced a smile, trying to ignore the pain. “I’ll
pick dare.”
The room fell silent. Everyone stared at me
and Jake.
Jake kept staring at me.
I played dumb.
What’s the dare? Is it ten shots of vodka?”
“What’s the dare? Is it ten shots of vodka?”
No one answered.
I poured the alcohol myself.
I drank glass after glass.
Jake grabbed my hand, his face dark.
“Stop.”
I yanked my hand back, tasting bile and
resentment.
I looked at him seriously.
“Jake, I accept my bet.”
I had bot on lake’s love and I had been bie
I had bet on Jake’s love, and I had been his
girlfriend.
I had bet on his love, and I had run away with
him to a new city, where we started from
scratch.
Now, I saw him with Summer and realized
that I had lost, that he cared about Summer
more than he cared about me.
It was okay, I accepted my loss.
Tears welled up, and my stomach ached.
I missed my parents.
But now I was regretting it.
Jake called the party over when I was on my
ninth glass, and he carried me home.
He made me hangover soup, feeding me one
spoonful at a time, like he used to when I was
sick.
I heard Jake’s voice as I was half–asleep.
“Evie, why didn’t you answer the question
today?”
I woke up. Jake was facing away from me.
We were together in bed, a short distance
apart.
Our hearts were far away.
لمنحمل
went to know the
く
I said, “Do you want to know the answer?”
Jake said nothing for a long time. “You
should get some sleep. It’s late.”
I cried silently.
I was reminded of Jake in this city, a boy with
sincerity.
“I swear that I’m going to provide for you in
the future.”
The Jake then had sparkling eyes and looked.
at me with passion.
When she was 19, Evie had love and Jake’s
burning passion.
She was cheerful, sunny, and cheerful.
At 26, Evie was lonely, and both her parents
had died.
Jake, is this your good life?
I looked at Jake and couldn’t help but cry.
You used to love me. Why are you doing this
to me?
I woke up the next day, and Jake had already
left for work.
I went to the mirror and opened my drawer to
take out the pain reliever.
The downside of drinking the day before was
<
I was going to be torn apart alive.
I took a few pills.
I opened the app to check the balance.
Not even 10,000 dollars.
I had earned the money before I became ill.
It’s funny. Jake is worth millions, but I can’t
even afford medicine.
I had switched to a public hospital to save
money.
I went into the clinic.
The doctor stared at me. “Evie Miller?”
L
I looked up, a smile appearing on my pale
face.
“Lewis, it’s been a long time.”
Lewis was my neighbor, three years older
than me.
He frowned at my medical record.
“Where’s your husband? Chemo is really
painful and needs a family member.”
I shook my head. “He’s busy. I’ve done chemo
at another hospital before, and I was alone
back then.”
Lewis looked at me with pity.
“Vou used to any for overthing !!
く
“You used to cry for everything.”
I shrugged. “I had someone to spoil me
before. Now…”
I forced a smile.
Lewis turned away.
“I have to review your chart. This is a chemo
appointment. We’ll start tomorrow.”
I stood up, but he stopped me.
“Dinner? We should celebrate.”
Lewis drove me to a southern restaurant.
I grew up in the south and had a hard time
く
I grew up in the south and had a hard time
with northern cuisine.
Lewis drove me home. Jake and Summer
were downstairs.
Summer was wearing Jake’s jacket.
They seemed like a couple.
Lewis took off his jacket to give it to me.
Jake pulled off the jacket.
“I got her.”
Lewis laughed. “What about you, Jake? How
much do you know?”
I smiled weakly. “I’m tired. See vou later.”
L
Lewis knew that I didn’t want Jake to know.
Jake looked at me. “Why are you with
Lewis?”
Jake was always jealous of Lewis in high
school.
I looked at him.
“Are you allowed to have friends but I’m not?”
Jake knew I was referring to Summer, but he
didn’t respond.
Summer teared up. “I’m sorry, Evie. Jake and I
are just friends.”
“I won’t bother you anymore.”
<
“I won’t bother you anymore.”
She ran away crying.
Jake turned around and said, “Evie, when are
you going to stop?”
He chased Summer.
I started crying.
I miss my parents.
I put my hands on my stomach and watched
him go.
“I regret running away with you.”
