Chapter 2Regrets in life

The trip was a huge success. We landed a major contract, and just like my boss promised, I was promoted to Director of Sales for the West Coast.

Three days later, we flew back to San Francisco. As a reward, my boss gave me two days off and offered to have his driver take me home. I smiled and told him not to worry about it; my boyfriend was coming to pick me up.

I stood at the arrivals curb with my oversized suitcase and called Leo three times. I sent five texts.

No answer.

The early March rain was cold, like icy needles against my skin. Defeated, I hailed a cab.

I punched in the code to our condo and was hit by the rich aroma of a home-cooked meal. There were already four dishes on the dining table. Leo, wearing an apron, was at the stove.

And on our new white sofa, a stranger—a man in his fifties—was asleep. He looked tired, his hair graying. A lit cigarette was perched between his fingers. A long column of ash broke off and fell onto our brand-new white shag rug.

I slammed the door shut, startling him awake. He sat up, stubbed out the cigarette in an ashtray, and rubbed his eyes. He glanced at the wedding portrait on the wall, then at me.

“You must be…” The man stood up, smiling. “You’re Leo’s girlfriend, Chloe, right?”

Leo heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen, spatula in hand. He looked surprised to see me. “You’re back already?”

He walked over, completely naturally, and pulled my suitcase inside. “This is Lily’s dad,” he explained. He pulled a spare pair of men’s slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them at my feet. “Lily’s mom is in the hospital right now, just a couple of blocks from here. Lily and her dad are taking shifts staying with her, so I told them they could crash here for a few days.”

“I see,” I said flatly.

Leo had to get back to the stove, so he rushed back to the kitchen. I wheeled my suitcase into the master bedroom.

The heat lamp in our en-suite bathroom was on, and I could hear the shower running. The sound was like a punch to the gut.

The water shut off. A moment later, the door opened. A young woman in cotton pajamas walked out, toweling her wet hair. Her face was fair and dewy, like a jasmine flower after a winter rain.

It was Lily. She saw me and froze. “Ch-Chloe? I thought you were on a business trip.”

Just like Leo. The exact same words.

My eyes fell to her feet. She was wearing my pink, bunny-ear slippers.

Lily shifted uncomfortably, taking a step back. “I don’t know if Leo told you, but my mom’s in the hospital. I couldn’t really shower there, so… I just borrowed your bathroom.”

Just then, Leo’s voice called from the other room. “Dinner’s ready!”