My parents called to let me know I needed to come over to my childhood best friend's house. He was having an official setup—meeting his prospective fiancée. That same best friend was currently fast asleep right next to me. Thinking it was some kind of twisted joke, I whispered, "Hey, Noah. They say they’ve found the girl you’re going to marry." He just gave a lazy grunt, pulling me tighter into his chest. "That's nice, babe. In a bit, help me pick out a suit and do my hair, yeah?" When he felt me go rigid in his arms, Noah opened one eye and scoffed. “Wait, what’s with that look? Come on, Chloe. You know what this is. We’re just friends with benefits. You didn’t actually think I’d ever marry you, did you?” 01 I couldn't process it. My brain just jammed. All I could do was scramble in awkward, frantic motions. I didn't dare look at Noah. I pushed him away, grabbed my clothes off the floor, and pulled them on, not caring that they were inside out. "Chloe Miller, look at me." Noah was propped up on his elbow, watching me with an unreadable expression. "You didn't honestly think we were dating, did you?" The phrase "friends with benefits" was screaming through my head. My hands were shaking so badly I couldn't get my bra hooked. Noah threw back the duvet, revealing his absurdly fit, tatted torso, and knelt on the edge of the bed. He reached out, his fingers familiar and sure as he hooked the clasp for me. I kept my head down. "Who is she?" I let out a bitter, silent laugh. I bet his parents dragged some poor girl from their country club list just to set this up. I looked in the mirror at the faint red marks on my skin, my legs still aching. Noah, wearing nothing but grey sweatpants, walked up behind me and buried his face in the crook of my neck. He flashed that devastating smile of his, his bedroom eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's Maya. Maya Lin." He repeated the name, savoring it. "You know, the Maya Lin. From high school. The one who went off to Juilliard for dance. "I swear, just thinking about seeing her again has me nervous." My hand froze halfway to my lips with my lipstick. Of course I remembered. Noah had been obsessed with her. He just never got the chance to ask her out before she moved away. I thought that was all in the past... Noah stared at me, pressing his lips together. "Look, Chloe, don't go getting any ideas. "We’ve known each other since we were in diapers. We’re practically family. And yeah, you’re... you’re beautiful, obviously. But I think of you like a sister. "You’re my go-to. My wingman, my plus-one, my... bedroom buddy..." It felt like a physical blow. I went cold all over. Looking at Noah’s smile, I forced my lips to twitch upward in a pathetic imitation of one. He kept going. "Besides, I know too much about you. I know exactly what you’re going to wear before you pick it out. I know your coffee order, your cycle, your weird habits. "There's no mystery. No excitement. "Honestly, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, see you sleeping there, and it scares me. "Scares me that maybe our parents were right, that we’d just end up together by default. That this is it for me. That my life is already mapped out." He actually shuddered as he said it. Like the mere thought of being stuck with me for life was his worst nightmare. I balled my hands into fists, digging my nails into my palms, fighting back the tears. "I have to go." Before he could say another word, I grabbed my coat and fled like a coward, dynamic and utterly humiliated. 02 I honestly believed Noah and I were in a relationship. I mean, we did everything couples do. We ate together, went on real dates, hung out with our friend groups. During games of Truth or Dare, we’d openly kiss, telling each other "I love you" without hesitation. Noah would pick me up from work every time it rained. He’d hold my hand under the table at family dinners. I didn't know. I didn't realize that the last six months of what I thought was our relationship was just him playing house. "Honey?" My mom knocked on the car window, peering in anxiously. I snapped back to reality. I caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror—tear-stained face, eyes red. I frantically wiped my cheeks before unlocking the door and stepping out. "Mom!" Terrified she’d see how broken I was, I threw my arms around her, faking a smile. "I missed you." She was holding groceries, but she hugged me back, letting out a sigh of relief. "Sweetie, why were you just sitting out here in the heat? You scared me. Haven't you seen those news stories about people overheating in cars?" I just nodded, letting her lecture me. Then, her tone shifted. "Speaking of things that matter... Noah’s prospective fiancée is going to be here soon. Your Uncle Robert and Aunt Sarah are making a really big deal out of this one. Apparently, Noah planned this whole thing. He actually asked them to pull some strings to set this 'arranged meeting' up. He wanted it to feel official. "Noah mentioned he was worried the girl might feel awkward, since it's such a stuffy environment. He thought having you there—another young woman, someone he trusts—might break the ice." Mom looked at me, her expression full of pity. She hesitated. "You know Sarah and I have been best friends for thirty years. If you go in there today..." "It’s fine, Mom," I said, interrupting her. I forced my cracked lips into a wider, fakery smile. "Don't worry about it. It’s just about keeping the vibe up, saying the right things. I get it." Mom just looked at me, her heart breaking. How could she not know? The framed picture of Noah and me was right on my nightstand. I had sealed away every single thoughtful gift he’d ever given me like they were sacred relics. And that was saying nothing of the journals filled with my utterly undisguised love for him. How could she not see it? We walked silently into the house. As I opened the door, a thought suddenly crystallized in my mind. "Mom, Dad’s retiring next month, right? Let's actually do it. Let's move down to Florida, like you guys always planned." I looked at my stunned mother, putting on my best spoiled-daughter act. "You guys have been talking about retiring to the Keys forever. I don’t have some huge dream career here. I can be a dance instructor anywhere. I just want to be with you guys." 03 Sitting in Noah’s living room with my parents felt wrong. Everything was different. Usually, we were loud, joking around. Last time we were here, we’d used "playing video games" as an excuse to hide in his room and make out. This time... "Oh, Mary, you have no idea," Aunt Sarah was saying to my mom, beaming. "That boy of mine went to so much trouble to get Maya here. "I told him, 'Why don’t you just call her up?' But no, he insisted on the whole formality. Said he wanted to approach her with 'serious intentions.' He had Robert pull every favor he had in the art world just to make sure her schedule would align for this 'meeting' today." I looked around the house. It was perfectly staged. Vases filled with red roses were everywhere. A fancy cheese board and upscale hors d'oeuvres were set out on the coffee table. Even Noah’s golden retriever was wearing a red bowtie. And there was Noah, checking his reflection in the entryway mirror for the tenth time, obsessing over whether he looked perfect. It was almost funny. Less than twenty-four hours ago, we were tangled up in his sheets, and he was kissing the tiny mole on my waist like it was the most precious thing on earth. And right now, he was wearing the boxer briefs I bought him. "It’s just a shame, really..." Aunt Sarah sighed, taking my mother's hand. "Remember when they were little? We used to joke that they’d marry each other. We practically bet on it!" She shot me a quick look. "I really do love Chloe. She’s gorgeous, and she has the sweetest personality. So vibrant and fun..." I kept my eyes down, not daring to speak. I knew that if I let my guard down for even a second, the tears would start flowing and they wouldn't stop. "Mom!" Noah snapped, frowning deeply. He looked thoroughly annoyed. "I already told you, that was just you and Mrs. Miller joking around. Why are you bringing this up now? Just because you’re best friends doesn't mean I have to marry her daughter. What is this, the 1800s? "Get with the times." He didn't care at all about embarrassing his mom. Then he turned to me, his voice harsh, as if Aunt Sarah's nostalgia was somehow my fault. "Chloe, where’s that bracelet my mom gave you?" When I didn't answer right away, Noah actually stepped forward, grabbed my wrist, and yanked my sleeve up. "The one she said was a 'family heirloom' for the default wife. I don't want Maya seeing it and getting the wrong idea..." The room went dead silent. My dad, who had been sipping his coffee, froze. My mom, who had been helping Aunt Sarah rearrange some flowers, stopped dead. In an instant, the atmosphere became utterly toxic. Mom looked at me, then slammed the vase and the scissors down onto the table with a loud CLATTER. She started to stand up, but Aunt Sarah immediately grabbed her arm. Aunt Sarah stood up quickly, placing herself protectively in front of me, and gave Noah a hard shove. "Noah James Carter! What is wrong with you?! "Setting aside the fact that you and this Maya Lin are absolute strangers... that bracelet? You were seventeen years old, Noah. You were on your knees, begging and crying, imploring Chloe to wear it!" It was like Noah finally snapped out of it. He remembered. He remembered that year another guy asked me to prom. He got so upset he drank half a bottle of his dad’s whiskey, stole the bracelet from his mom’s jewelry box, and broke into my house in the middle of the night. He was crying, screaming, literally on his knees, begging me to wear the Carter family heirloom. He pulled at his tie, taking a deep, shaky breath. Then he forced a smile and looked at me. "I... I’m just stressed. My mistake. I... once I give a gift, I don't take it back. Keep it." "No," I said, standing up and cutting him off. My voice was calm. "It’s fine. I’ll give it back. I’m just going to run home and get it now." "I’ll be quick. I won’t ruin your afternoon." Before anyone could react, I grabbed my bag and walked out. 04 When I got back with the bracelet, I was just about to knock when a loud cheer exploded from inside. "Welcome...!" Noah’s smile vanished the second he saw it was me. "What are you doing here?" He apparently didn't expect me to actually come back. Or that I’d seriously return the bracelet. Because when I pressed it into his hand, Noah just stared at it, looking completely blindsided. Finally, he pocketed it, leaned in close to my ear, and whispered: "Chloe, we’re good friends, right? We have that... understanding. Please, just don't create any drama today. "Maya’s a sensitive girl. Don't say anything weird that might upset her." I didn't even want to answer him. Maya Lin is a girl, but what am I? A robot? I looked at this man I had loved for my entire youth, and a bone-deep chill almost consumed me. Ten minutes later, the door opened, and a mutual acquaintance of the families walked in, leading Maya Lin. The adults started chatting immediately. They got along famously. That was why my parents were even there. To provide that comfortable, established family vibe. Under the guise of casual conversation, the mutual friend was subtly laying out both families' financial status and assets. It was a business merger disguised as a date. Meanwhile, Noah was hovering over Maya, hanging on her every word. He was practically vibrating with excitement. He was almost thirty years old, but he was acting like a nervous high schooler. I was invisible. No one cared that I was there, and honestly, I was glad. I was just waiting for a chance to slip away. Then, unexpectedly, Maya turned and looked at me with a sweet smile. "This is Chloe Miller, right? I’ve heard so much about you. You were the dancer in high school, a total queen." Being put on the spot made me nervous. I waved my hands. "Oh, no way. That was ages ago. People were just being nice." I thought that would be the end of it. But Maya kept pushing. "Not at all. I heard at the spring formal you did this incredible lyrical solo, and the next day your locker was literally buried in flowers." Before I could say anything, Maya giggled and playfully tugged on Noah’s arm. "You guys were childhood best friends, right? I can't believe you never dated. "I remember people saying you two were inseparable, like you were attached at the hip. Everyone just assumed you’d end up married." Every single eye in the room turned to me. I can't even describe the feeling. Maya looked innocent and harmless, but I could feel this underlying current of hostility coming from her. "Her?" Noah looked at Maya, then handed her the apple he’d just finished peeling. "In your eyes she’s a dancer, maybe a 'queen.' "But to me? She’s just a tomboy. We grew up wearing each other’s hand-me-downs. She’s my brother." Like he was remembering something funny, Noah actually laughed out loud. "You have no idea. When we were kids, if Chloe cried, snot and tears would be flying everywhere. "If I didn't wipe her nose for her, it probably would have flowed right into her mouth. "Oh, and when Chloe was fifteen, she fainted during P.E. from running and started talking gibberish, flailing around like a crazy person..." "I have to go," I said, interrupting him. I was shaking with anger but fought the urge to scream. I stood up and forced a polite smile at the adults. "Nice seeing you all." Maya looked at Noah with a look of extreme embarrassment. "Oh dear. Did I say something wrong? I didn't mean to upset her." Noah glared at me, furious that I was "ruining the mood." Before he could snap at me, I beat him to it. "I have a date with my boyfriend tonight. If I don't leave now, I’m going to be late." 05 "Since when do you have a boyfriend?" I was only halfway out the door when Noah grabbed my arm, yanking me back. "How come I don’t know about this?" In front of everyone—including Maya—my face went bright red. I yanked my arm back with everything I had. "What I do with my dating life is none of your business, Noah." I was shaking with rage. "My parents haven't even asked, and you think you have a say?!" "Noah!" Uncle Robert’s voice was low and stern. "Sit down! You're making a scene." I seized the opportunity and quickly nodded to the adults. "Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Carter." Behind me, I heard Maya’s sweet, "innocent" voice again. "Chloe is so beautiful, and she's always on stage. I bet she has tons of guys chasing her... "It’s totally normal for her to be dating. I mean, I noticed what looked like a love bite under her scarf earlier." Realizing she’d said something inappropriate, she paused, then added with a self-deprecating giggle, "I guess artist personalities are just different. We painters are more quiet and introverted. Dancers are... more expressive, more open... "But I respect every girl's right to choose." I didn't listen to whatever conversation they had about me after that. My style has always been bold, sexy. She was just using that to elevate herself by tearing me down. Typical "cool girl" move. And I didn't even want to think about the terrible things Noah was probably saying to agree with her. They didn't know, though. Even if the part about the boyfriend was a lie... The part about me leaving, about moving to Florida, that was 100% real. I started researching condos down there, figuring out how to transfer my dance instructor certification. I threw myself into the logistics, keeping myself so busy I didn't have time to think about Noah James Carter. We grew up together. He always played the role of the sweet, protective older brother. He’d be the first to jump in if anyone bullied me. When I was ten, I was being stubborn and made Noah stay with me at the playground until nine o'clock. Both of our parents were frantic. They’d actually called the police by the time they found us, playing house in the sandbox. He took all the blame. He told them it was his idea, his fault. That night, Uncle Robert was so angry he beat him with a belt. I was crying, saying it was my fault, but Noah just set his jaw and insisted it was all him. Later, as I grew up and got beautiful, and he grew into his looks, we became the neighborhood’s "it couple." I genuinely believed I was living out the perfect rom-com story. [When are you free?] A message from Noah popped up. I wiped away a tear. I hadn’t even started typing a reply when another message came through. [Come get your stuff out of my house. I’m inviting Maya over in a few days.] I took a deep breath, forcing myself to be calm. Less than twenty-four hours ago, we were curled up in his bed, watching a romantic movie. Things got intense, and we were intimate until the middle of the night. And now... I let out a bitter laugh. I unpinned Noah from the top of my chat list and sent a simple, detached: [Okay.] 06 I locked myself in my room that whole day. My parents got back not long after I did. "Florida is over a thousand miles away, honey. Once we move, it’s going to be really hard to come back," Mom said, her voice soft and worried. My dad hid behind his newspaper, but I could tell he was watching me. I pulled on my coat. "The weather is perfect down there. And wasn't that always the dream? To retire to the Keys?" I forced a laugh and hugged my mom. "The only issue is finding a good dance studio, but I’m thinking about just opening my own... "And as for performance opportunities... you guys know I never really cared about being famous." "But..." Mom frowned, starting to say something. "Chloe, sweetie..." I looked at the clock. "Okay, I’m serious about this. I’m fine. I’m making a rational decision. Please stop worrying about me. "You guys are the ones who need to start thinking about the money situation." I kissed her cheek lightly. "I have to run. Bye!" I wanted to believe that time and distance would heal the pain. I had become much calmer. My love, which had been so devout and passionate, I had never spoken it out loud. At least I hadn’t lost my dignity. I really thought that Noah and I would have a clean break. Just two people going their separate ways. I never expected I wouldn't be able to get into my own apartment. I stood at the door, entering the code over and over again— [Error] [Error] ... Fury ignited in my chest. I went to knock, then my logic kicked back in. I pulled out my phone and called Noah. The busy signal rang in my ear—call rejected. On the fifth try, he sent a text: [On a date. Do not disturb.] I let out a long breath, fighting the urge to scream profanities into the phone. I texted back: [Password.] The next second, a giant red exclamation point appeared next to my message. Noah had actually blocked me! I rubbed my temples. I considered just walking away, but the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. So I called a locksmith. 07 I was fueled by pure, cold rage. Instead of dealing with the lock, I decided to go to Noah’s parents' house. I told Aunt Sarah I needed the deed to the apartment for some homeowner's association paperwork. She didn't even question me. She just handed it over. "I don't know what Noah would do without you, Chloe." She realized what she said and gave a strained, awkward laugh. I took the deed and went back to the locksmith. An hour of drilling and paperwork later, I finally walked into the place I had called "home" for almost a year. I still remembered the day I moved in. Noah was standing in the doorway, hands in his pockets, grinning at me. "Chloe Miller, welcome home." I looked around. The carefully cultivated little plants, my skirts hanging on the drying rack on the balcony, my makeup covering the bathroom counter, even the fancy dinnerware we’d bought for special occasions. I went straight to work. I packed up my designer clothes, my expensive bags, and my high-end skincare. As for everything else—the furniture and decor Noah and I had bought together—I rolled up my sleeves and smashed it all. By the time the place was utterly destroyed, I was exhausted. I was just about to leave when Noah walked in, holding a few grocery bags. He froze in the doorway. He actually stepped back outside and checked the apartment number. A full five minutes passed before he came back inside, his face red with fury. "Chloe, what the actual hell is wrong with you?" 08 I shrugged. "You changed the password. I called, you rejected. I texted, you didn't reply." Noah picked his way through the wreckage of his living room on his tiptoes. He shoved the groceries into the fridge. He rubbed his temples, trying to explain. "I was on a date with Maya. If she heard us fighting on the phone again, what would she think of me?" My heart still did a stupid, painful little flutter. In the past, every time I’d tried to get him to go on a real date, he’d always make up some excuse or act dismissive. "Maya and I are doing really well. She’s sweet and introverted, and I need to treat this seriously. Take things slow. "She's not like you. That’s why I don't answer calls from other women when I’m with her..." He let out a sigh, then looked at me, a smile starting to play on his lips. "Chloe, you haven't eaten, have you? I’m going to make dinner. Just stay, eat something, and then you can go." Like he was terrified I’d say no, he added quickly, "Think of it as our 'breakup' dinner. For old times' sake." I looked at him as he bustled around the kitchen. I sniffed, fighting back the tears. My eyes burned. An hour later, I had confirmed that there was absolutely nothing left in that apartment that I wanted to take with me. Noah had set a beautiful spread on the table. Everything smelled incredible. I actually thought that maybe, in the future, we could still pretend to be polite acquaintances. After all, we had twenty years of history. I reached out with my fork, but a sharp "Don't touch!" from Noah made me freeze. He ran over frantically, holding a tiny, appetizer-sized plate, and handed it to me. "Just take a tiny bite of everything. I need to get the rest over to Maya while it’s still hot." Noah was holding this little plate that was smaller than his palm. "Hurry up and taste which one is the best, so I can pack her a bigger portion. "If there’s something you don't like, I won't bring it to her. I’ll leave it for you to finish..." CRASH! I slammed my fork onto the floor. His hand was still frozen in mid-air with that pathetic little plate. I stood up abruptly, my chair screeching against the hardwood floor. My voice was thick with tears. "Noah James Carter, listen to me. I never thought of you as my 'bedroom buddy.' I actually, truly loved you... "Every sweet thing I ever said to you..." My eyes were red, staring straight into his. "I meant every single word." I ignored his stunned expression and turned to leave. "But now I finally understand how stupid I was."
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