Chapter 2

"Are we going or not? What's so special about a stupid trail?"

Ethan sat in the driver's seat, impatiently honking the horn.

In the morning, I had taped the E-ZPass statement to the fridge, asking him to take me back to our college campus.

In the past, every sticky note I left on the fridge would be carefully collected by him in a wooden box. He used to say they were proof of our love.

Now, that billing statement only got me a sour face and an aggressive grab of his car keys.

I opened the back door and sat in the back seat.

Ethan looked at me through the rearview mirror. "Why are you sitting in the back? Am I your chauffeur now?"

I said, "The passenger seat is pushed too far forward."

That was Hailey's habit.

She was petite and always liked to push the passenger seat all the way to the front.

Ethan frowned. "Then just adjust it back. It’s not a big deal."

Seeing that I didn't move, he shook his head and started the engine.

The car was filled with the heavy scent of Hailey's favorite perfume.

My throat felt itchy, and I coughed twice.

Ethan snapped immediately. "What's wrong with you now?"

"I'm allergic to heavy perfumes. You forgot."

"Hailey rode in my car yesterday to meet a client and sprayed it. Don't be so dramatic, okay?"

He glanced at me through the mirror, his eyes full of annoyance, and rolled down the window.

The wind rushed in, diluting the scent a bit.

Three years ago, when he first bought this car.

Just to pick me up from work, he put charcoal bags in the car two weeks in advance and wiped the leather seats with lemon water every day.

Because I had told him that the smell of a new car made me sick.

Back then, he wouldn't even hang any ornaments on the mirror.

He said they would swing around and make me dizzy.

Now, a cute little charm Hailey gave him hung right from the rearview mirror.

I closed my eyes. "Can you take that charm down? It’s making me dizzy."

"Why do you have so many issues today?"

Ethan slammed on the brakes.

I lurked forward, hitting the back of the front seat. My chest throbbed with pain.

I held my chest and said nothing.

Ethan glanced at me again through the mirror and adjusted the AC vents to blow cold air to the back.

In the past, this tiny bit of care would have made me happy for days.

Now, it just felt pathetic.

I looked at the barren trees outside, pulling my coat tighter.

He said, "Hailey custom-ordered that charm for me. She said it brings good luck. It's bad luck to take it down."

I rubbed my aching temples.

He used to drive so smoothly, slowing down long before a red light.

He was always afraid that sudden braking would make me throw up.

Now, because he was in a hurry, he kept weaving in and out of lanes.

With every sharp turn, my stomach churned.

I said softly, "Slow down."

"I can't. Hailey said her cat is having severe anxiety and is hiding under the bed. I need to finish this walk with you quickly so I can go help her."

"Doesn't she have a boyfriend?"

"You know she just broke up and is in a terrible mood. Why are you picking a fight over a hurting girl?"

I let out a soft laugh and didn't reply.

The car speakers suddenly blasted heavy metal music—Hailey's favorite.

My stomach felt worse and worse as the trees outside blurred past.

I didn't even have the energy to ask him to turn it down.

"I need some loud music to stay awake. You just sleep," he said.

In the past, as long as I was in the car, the playlist was strictly soft piano music.

He said he didn't want to disturb my rest.

Now, even my voice annoyed him.

My phone vibrated.

It was a text from my lawyer.

[Hi Avery, the divorce settlement has been sent to your email. Please review it.]

Right then, Ethan's phone rang too. He picked up the FaceTime call.

"Hailey, what's wrong?"

"Ethan, the cat still won't come out. I'm so scared."

"Don't worry. I'll be there as soon as I finish this routine check with Avery."

A routine check.

That was what he called the final walk of our eight-year relationship.

"Then hurry up, please. I can't do this alone."

"Okay, wait for me."

Ethan hung up and sped up even more.

I stared out the window, my eyes burning.

"Ethan," I called him.

"What now?"

I paused, then said, "Nothing. Just focus on the road."