My Boyfriend of Seven Years Takes Care of My Best Friend Like She’s His Girlfriend Chapter 03

My Boyfriend of Seven Years Takes Care of My Best Friend Like She’s His Girlfriend Chapter 03

The park was packed with couples. Julian squeezed my hand, smiling.

“On our first date, I was too shy to even hold your hand. Now we’re getting married.”

Sienna cut in, chattering away.

“You better thank me, future Mrs. Cole! Without my genius plan, you two never would’ve gotten engaged so fast!”

“Yeah, yeah. You get the VIP table at the wedding. Happy?”

“Then buy me bubble tea!”

“Ice cream black tea, 30% sugar, no ice. Obviously. Elara, what do you want? I’ll get them with Sienna.”

Right then, a camera crew from the Valentine’s Day shoot walked over.

“We’re filming a segment. Mind if we ask how long you’ve been together?”

Julian looked caught off guard. He pulled me in front of him.

“You’ve got the wrong couple. Elara’s my girlfriend.”

Sienna grabbed Julian’s hand without hesitation, grinning ear to ear.

“Sorry, babe! Stop making me jealous by pretending she’s your date.”

She leaned in, her voice low enough for only us to hear.

“Chill. It’s just a bit. Today’s my birthday—let me play along. Elara won’t mind.”

In front of the lens, their fingers laced together.

Sienna rattled off their “relationship milestones” like a pro.

Julian smiled down at her, his gaze soft and indulgent.

They looked perfect together.

The crowd pushed me farther to the edge.

I smiled and snapped a photo of their laced hands.

Julian Cole.

You found me in the crowd. Now you’ve left me there again.

Good thing I don’t love you anymore.

After the interview, Sienna pouted dramatically.

“Elara, I was just messing around! Don’t be mad!”

Julian backed her up instantly.

“Exactly. You know how she gets—total chaos. Don’t take it personally.”

I shook my head.

“I’m not mad at all. I’m actually here to break up with you.”

Fireworks exploded overhead. Julian clapped his hands over Sienna’s ears.

He turned back to me, shouting over the boom.

“Elara, what did you say?”

I opened my mouth to repeat it.

Sienna was already dragging him toward the drop tower.

I’m terrified of heights. I’d always refused to ride it with him.

But tonight, I suddenly wanted to try.

Not for him. For the courage to break free from these two sick, tangled relationships.

Only two seats were left. Julian grinned and put Sienna’s hand in mine.

“You two are next. You two sit together.”

I closed my eyes.

The next second, Sienna’s scream ripped through the night.

“HELP!”

The ride operator hit the emergency stop.

That’s when everyone saw it.

She hadn’t buckled her harness.

Sienna sat there shaking, tears streaming down her face.

Julian turned as white as a ghost.

He scooped her up, then turned to me, his voice ice-cold.

“Elara, how could you be so cruel? You were right there and didn’t warn her. Did you want to hurt her?”

Sienna finally snapped out of it. She weakly pushed his chest.

“Don’t blame her. Hurting her hurts me. Julian, go away.”

The murmurs around us grew louder.

Julian let out a long breath. “Fine. Whatever you say.”

“Elara, just go home. Sienna’s a mess—someone needs to stay with her.”

I took a sharp breath.

Back at my apartment, I pulled out the journal Julian used to keep for us.

I couldn’t remember the last time he’d written in it.

But today, I wrote the ending myself.

“February 14th. Age 26. We broke up.”

Age 26. Sienna’s birthday. The day I cut her off, too.