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“Well, I was talking to Edith the other day, and her son Michael returned from Europe. He was with you in high school, Sebastian. He’s handsome and will have his own practice as a doctor one day,” my Mother says. “I could set up a blind date for you, Gem.”

“Shall we get started?” Bash jerks his head toward the stairs.

I nod, eager to escape before my mother can launch into a lecture about my dim prospects of dying alone.

Mercifully but defeated, for now, she takes the hint. “Well, have fun at packing.”

“We will. Love you, Mom.” I hug her and follow Bash upstairs to my old bedroom. The sooner we finish here, the better.

Upon entering my old bedroom, I’m hit by a wave of nostalgia. Bash and I building forts with blankets and pillows as children. The heartbreak of my first crush rejecting me in middle school.

Now, my marriage has ended, and I’m back here. The life I imagined with Oliver and my childhood in this house is gone.

“Where should we start?” Bash wraps an arm around my shoulders.

“The closet. Let’s get those clothes packed up.”

We set to work, falling into an easy rhythm. He lifts the heavy boxes while I sort through the mess in my closet, keeping some items and donating the rest.

“Do you remember this top?” I hold up a floral blouse, a burst of color in my hands. “You hated it. Said the pattern was too busy.”

“And you wore it just to annoy me.” His lips twitch at the memory. “You always did have terrible taste in clothes.”

“I do not!” I toss a pillow at him, but he catches it with ease, laughing. “My designs will be featured in all the top fashion magazines one day. You’ll see.”

“I look forward to it. Truly, Gem. If anyone can make it in this cutthroat industry, it’s you.”

“Thanks.” It’s nice to hear others believing in me after Oliver did the exact opposite. “That means a lot.”

“It’s the truth.”

I fold another pair of jeans and place them in the cardboard box.

Bash grunts as he lifts another heavy box. “I can’t believe how much stuff you still have here.”

“Yes. Thanks again for helping me pack up.”

“Of course. But I still think you shouldn’t wait three months for the big move. Why not now?”

“Lil needs to wrap some things up. So I said I’ll wait, and we move together.” At the mention of Lil, his face turns cold, and he busies himself with the boxes.

I was thrilled when he asked for my approval to date her during our college years. Something must’ve gone horribly wrong between them, but I’m in the dark as to why they despise each other, given that they both remain silent on the matter.

If I could play Cupid, they would be at the top of my list, with Mary and her online guy.

“Lil’s moving into the same apartment as me.”

“I told you to stop mentioning her to me,” he snaps.

“What is your problem with her?”

“Drop it.” His eyes flash with anger as he glares at me. Bash has always been easygoing, and I’ve rarely seen him lose his temper like this.

My hands curl into fists at my sides. “Not until you finally tell me why you hate her so much. She’s moving to New York with me, and I won’t have you treating her badly.”

“I said drop it!” He slams another box closed, the cardboard crunching under his hands. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell.” Bash sighs and runs a hand through his golden blonde hair. His green eyes, the same color as mine, soften as he observes me. “Lil and I have… history. History that I’d rather forget. Can you please leave it at that?”

I want to ask more, to push him into telling me everything, but his defeated expression stops me. “Okay. I won’t bring it up again. I’m sorry.”

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