Chapter 4

19 Emily's mom found Ethan's mom pretty quickly, and together, they came knocking on my door. Ethan's mom looked like the picture of reason, the type who probably thought the internet was a fad. So, there she was, and I had Sam open the door for them. "Katherine, dear, we know all about what happened. I've watched Emily grow up, she wouldn't hurt a fly. How about you forgive her, for an old woman like me, hmm?" I took a bite of my cherry, eyes fixed on her. "And what exactly do you 'know,' ma'am?" Ethan's mom looked like I'd just slapped her. "It's just that Ethan has always looked out for Emily. And you're fine, aren't you? Emily has depression. She just likes pretty things and kind words. Can't you just let it go?" She leaned in, voice dropping to a stage whisper, "If you ever want to be part of the Ford family, you can't be so petty!" 20 I almost choked on my cherry pit. "Good thing Ethan and I are done then. Wouldn't want that kind of bad luck." I popped another cherry in my mouth, chewing slowly. "Do you really get it, ma'am? This is a guy who brings his 'sister' on dates, who crawls into her bed in the middle of the night to 'cuddle.' Is that what a caring brother does?" Ethan's mom's face was getting progressively more interesting, a mix of purple and red. Emily's mom pressed her arm, and then, in a move so dramatic it would've made a soap opera blush, they both dropped to their knees. And, oh, they had even started a livestream. I stared at the phone, then at the camera. "So, these two are trying to guilt-trip me into changing my story. But why the hell should I?" I raised my voice, making sure the viewers could hear. "If there's a single lie in anything I've said, feel free to sue me. But... I doubt the people involved would dare." Then, I walked over to Ethan's mom, crouching down to meet her gaze. "Did you forget how Ethan's dad treated you? Do you really think your son is any different? They're both jerks!" Even as they were being ushered out, Ethan's mom looked completely out of it... 21 After a few months of recovery, Sam declared me fully healed. So, naturally, I decided a trip to Limoges, France was in order. Of course, the minute I stepped outside, there was Ethan, looking like he'd been dragged through a hedge backward. My brother, from behind me, let out a snort. "Been trying to get rid of him for days. No luck." Ethan was in the same suit he'd probably been wearing for days. There was a wine stain on his white dress shirt, and his face was covered in stubble. He looked utterly homeless. I quickly glanced at Sam, a visual palate cleanser. What a mess. "Kat, I was wrong. I messed up. Can you ever forgive me?" His voice cracked. "Is it really over between us?" I smiled at him, then turned and looped my arm through Sam's. "What makes you think you even deserve me? You belong with a toad, because 'unworthy' is practically written on your forehead!" "Seriously, what do you even have going for you that's better than him? No money, no job, no degree. When I was out of my mind, I was the one supporting you." "So, what? You've weighed your options and decided I'm your best bet? Why would I put myself through that again?" Ethan kept shaking his head, eyes bloodshot. "No, no, that's not it. I really do care about you. I just... I didn't handle things well. But we were together for so long. You can't just throw that away." He took a step closer. "Let's meet halfway. I'm giving you an out. Take it, and let's start over." I shook my head, a slow, deliberate movement. "But I don't love you anymore. And do you remember something I said when we were together?" He blinked, confused for a moment, then his eyes widened in horror. I grabbed a piece of paper and patted his head with it. "What? Remember now? I said, 'Your eyes are so beautiful, especially that little mole at the corner.'" He looked at Sam's eyes, his body swaying. His eyes filled with utter despair. 22 Limoges was beautiful, full of these charming little cobblestone streets that were even more magical after the rain. Sam, who insisted on tagging along, had the photography skills of a potato. He somehow managed to make me look four feet tall, and my slit dress ended up looking like some kind of weird, flapping bird. And he kept nagging, "Don't play in the water. Don't get caught in the rain. What if you catch a cold? Even for a photo, it's not worth it." I rolled my eyes, tuning him out. 23 Karma's a bitch. I actually caught a cold. But as I sat there, wrapped in a blanket, watching Sam make me ginger tea, he was wearing the cute pajamas I bought him. He looked perfect. I shuffled over to him, leaning against his back. "Do you want to adopt a bunny?" His body stiffened. "Whose bunny?" "My bunny. But the bunny comes with its owner. It's a package deal." "Okay." 24 We were still in Limoges when my brother called. He said Ethan was dead. It felt surreal, like hearing about a stranger's death. "Emily was apparently pregnant with Ethan's child. She wanted to use the baby to force Ethan to marry her, but he refused." "She jumped from the roof of Ethan's building. Killed herself, the baby, and landed on Ethan. Three lives gone, just like that. And it scared Ethan's mom speechless apparently." I sighed, popping a grape into my mouth, the phone on speaker. "Everyone has their own fate, I guess. His was to lose the one he loved forever." From the kitchen, Sam's voice called out, "Sweet and sour ribs tonight?" There was a beat of silence on my brother's end, then, "You son of a bitch, Sam! You—you just wait!" Sam came over, looking at me, and the phone still on speaker. Guess he picked the perfect time to say that.