On the high-speed train, I saw Carter, who
was now with Bethany, and Jason, and we
stared each other down.
Carter looked tired, saying, “Summer, I…”
I plugged my ears. “La la la, can’t hear you.”
Carter’s face flushed, and the veins in his
neck popped.
Jason pulled me closer, looking at Carter
coldly.
I tugged on Jason’s shirt, whispering, “Let’s
upgrade our seats.”
Sitting next to Carter was bad luck. It was
ruining my mood.
Jason would do anything for me.
Besides, he didn’t want to sit across from
that scumbag.
Rejected, Carter’s eyes turned crimson, like
he was about to blow up.
Bethany grabbed his sleeve, speaking
carefully.
“Carter, we’re in public. Please don’t make a
scene.”
I thought the drama was over, that Carter
would listen to Bethany.
Instead, he shoved her away, yelling, “Who
the hell are you to tell me what to do?!”
“You’re a freakin’ bitch. Are you hitting on
Jason too?”
I was stunned and finally focused on Bethany.
She wasn’t as bright and confident as she
used to be.
It had only been a few days, but she was like
a different person.
Her face was pale, with dark bruises.
Her long, black hair was dry and uneven.
Bethany had always tried to make me think
Carter was special to her, that she wanted
him for herself.
She got her wish, but she didn’t seem very
happy.
Carter’s shouting was getting on the other
passengers’ nerves.
Someone yelled at him to shut up, and
another flagged down a tall male flight
attendant.
Carter was silent, but he pinched Bethany
hard.
Tears welled up in Bethany’s eyes, but she
didn’t say a word. She just suffered in silence.
“Excuse me, we’d like to upgrade our seats.”
I looked away, stopping the flight attendant.
As we left, I didn’t look back.
We all make our own choices, and whatever
the future held, I couldn’t blame anyone else.
It was all our own fault.
Back in Jianghai City, I had another problem
waiting for me.
Carter and I had been living together for three
weeks before Christmas.
I’d bought a lot of stuff, and I needed to get
my things.
Inevitably, the four of us met again at the
front door.
وو
Carter reached for my hand. “Summer…”
#
“I knew you couldn’t stay away.”
JE
ふ
I took a step back, avoiding his touch.
Carter froze, looking devastated.
3
FERE a
I forced myself to be nice, explaining why I
was here.
心
4
“I’m here to get my stuff. I’ll pay you for my
share of the rent.
وو
Carter felt like he was being humiliated, and
his face turned red, then pale.
I ignored him and went inside, with Jason
close behind me.
I had a lot of stuff in the apartment, but I only
wanted a few things.
“Throw all these clothes away. And these
decorations.”
Without looking up, I tossed the gray and
black shirts and pants into a bag.
Carter had made me buy them when we were
dating.
4
I never wanted to wear them again. They were
just too creepy.
Jason helped me for hours, until we were
finally done.
Carter tried one last time, his lips trembling.
“Summer, you don’t have a place to stay yet.
Why don’t you stay here?”
“I won’t bother you, okay?”
How could he even say that?
Before I could tell him he was insane, Jason
cut in, “Carter, do you think I’m dead?”
Seeing Jason clench his fists, Bethany
stepped in to play peacemaker.
She walked us to the door, forcing a smile.
As soon as the door closed, yelling could be
heard.
“Why are you always sticking your nose into
my business?! If you care so much, why didn’t
you help me win Summer back?”
“If you hadn’t been trying to seduce me all
the time, I wouldn’t have freaked out on
Christmas Eve and Summer would never have
left me!”
I was in shock that he could actually say that.
I quickly dragged Jason away.
“Don’t catch Carter’s crazy.
99
Jason agreed, trusting my judgment.
We found a hotel.
Jason was a digital artist with a flexible
schedule, so finding a new place was his job.
After we found a new home, he started
driving me to and from school.
