Chapter 4

Right. How interesting.

He used to say things like that too.

Except back then, he wouldn't say "probably." He'd say "definitely."

I turned to look at the piano in the living room, and Luke's gaze followed mine.

That was a gift Luke bought me after graduation, with his first big paycheck.

It was a gift he promised to buy me after I nagged him for a long time-the second gift in seven years of dating.

The ridiculous thing is, I never even played it before it broke.

After graduation, Luke and I moved in together.

I was comfortable, living off my family's support, taking my time to find a job.

Luke was different. He started clawing his way up from his senior year of college.

So I focused on being his pillar of support.

During that time, Chloe was busy looking for work, so she rarely appeared.

Luke and I's relationship gradually strengthened.

Luke got a promotion and a raise after his first project was a success.

To celebrate, he invited a bunch of friends, including Chloe.

"Aubrey! You're such a good influence on Luke! You really keep him together!"

"Luke, you mean this house is yours?"

Chloe looked around, sizing up the place.

I had a bad feeling then, and sure enough, Luke brought up the idea of letting Chloe move in.

"Aubrey, Chloe's apartment complex has had a few break-ins recently. I'm really worried about her living alone."

"If she comes, she can keep you company too!"

Luke pleaded with me for a long time.

I finally softened and agreed.

But the first day Chloe moved in, she "accidentally" spilled water on the piano.

I blew up at her, and Chloe ran off crying.

The first thing Luke said when he brought her back wasn't to comfort me, but to accuse me.

"Chloe definitely didn't mean to."

"It's just a piano, Aubrey. Do you have to make such a huge deal out of it? You're being so over-the-top!"

"I'll just buy you another one next time, okay?"

In that battlefield of three, I never won.

That time, I called it quits, but regretted it the next day.

Later, the piano was never mentioned again.

Luke followed my gaze to the piano, then looked down.

"The piano..."

"I... I just forgot about it later..."

Yes, Luke had a bad memory.

But only when it came to me, not Chloe.

He couldn't remember what subway stop my office was on, but he could tell you exactly where the best coffee shop was near Chloe's job.

He couldn't remember I had pollen allergies, but he could remember Chloe didn't like cilantro.

I didn't answer, walking directly into the room Chloe used to stay in.

The room was painted pastel blue, with a crib, a high chair, a changing table...

Everything was brand new and unopened.

It was the nursery I had carefully decorated for Luke and my first child.

"Luke, you and Chloe owe me a life. Forever."

His eyes instantly reddened. "Aubrey..."

Luke reached out to grab me, but I stepped back.