Too Late to Beg: I’m No Longer Yours Chapter 01

Too Late to Beg: I’m No Longer Yours Chapter 01

On my birthday, my boyfriend, Hayes, stuck the candles into the cake and told me to make a wish.

“You have to repeat your wish ninety-nine times in your head for it to come true.”

I closed my eyes and did exactly that. I wished for our happy ending.

When I opened my eyes, the private dining room was empty.

An iMessage group chat popped up on my phone screen.

[Happy Birthday! Surprised?]

[Nova, we’re off to Hawaii! Is this birthday surprise crazy enough?]

A FaceTime call from Hayes lit up the screen.

I answered. Four people held up their boarding passes. Their flight to Maui was taking off in an hour.

My best friend, Brielle Carson, wore the butterfly hair clip I had carefully picked out for my birthday.

Delaney Sinclair was wearing the birthday gift my boyfriend had given me just two hours ago—a silver designer heart ring.

And Hayes Whitmore had his arm wrapped tightly around Delaney’s shoulders.

My brother, Cole Hart, stood in the middle. He was holding up Mom’s only relic—that vintage silver necklace.

“Nova, Laney said this necklace was pretty. I’m letting her wear it for a couple of days.”

“Besides, it’s a good chance to take Mom to see the ocean.”

Hayes gave a gentle smile.

“Don’t make a scene. We’ll be back in a few days.”

I hung up. A bone-deep chill spread through my chest.

Ever since Delaney moved back from LA and joined our circle, everyone started treating me like a burden.

They called me rigid. Stubborn. A control freak.

Delaney, on the other hand, drank with them. Pulled all-nighters playing video games. Joined their spontaneous road trips.

Hayes had even laughed about it in front of everyone.

“Nova just takes herself too seriously. Give her the cold shoulder a few times, and she’ll learn how to fit in.”

I left the group chat. I reached into my bag and pulled out a plane ticket to Toronto.

If I couldn’t fit into their world, I would just walk away for good.

***

The candles on the cake were still burning.

The flames flickered, dangerously low. The buttercream on the red velvet cake smelled faintly of toasted sugar.

I swiped a bit of frosting with my finger and tasted it.

It was so sweet it tasted bitter.

A waiter pushed the door open. He froze when he saw me sitting alone.

“Ma’am, your time for the private room is up. Here is the check.”

“The total is five hundred and forty dollars.”

I took the receipt.

A full page of cocktails and appetizers.

A bottle of champagne that cost three hundred and twenty dollars.

I hadn’t even seen any of those items since I walked in.

Then I remembered the massive bag of snacks and liquor in Brie’s hands during the video call.

How ridiculous.

They had turned my birthday prank into their little group’s departure party.

They even made me foot the bill for their road trip supplies.

I nodded, tapped my phone to pay, and grabbed my coat.

Just as I reached the door, the hostess chased after me.

“Ms. Hart. Mr. Whitmore left something for you.”

She handed me a paper bag.

Inside was a hotel key card.

And a sticky note.

[Booked you a room at The Ritz-Carlton to make it up to you.]

It was Hayes’s handwriting.

I stared at those words for a long time.

It wasn’t an apology. It was another punishment.

In the five years we had been together, whenever I showed the slightest hint of unhappiness, he would kick me out of our place.

“Go cool off.”

Then he would book me a hotel room, claiming he was giving us both some space.

My phone buzzed again.

A private message from Brie.

[Nova, stop pouting.]

[Hayes only changed the plans last minute to cheer Laney up.]

[She was diagnosed with anxiety a few days ago. She needed a trip. Be a little more understanding.]

[We didn’t tell you because we were afraid you’d refuse to come. Plus, you don’t even like beach vacations anyway.]

I didn’t reply.

She sent another photo.

Delaney was sitting in the airport’s Delta Sky Club lounge. Hayes was kneeling in front of her, tying her shoelaces.

That was when I noticed the braided leather bracelet on his wrist.

I zoomed in. There was a tiny charm in the center, engraved with the letter L.

My heart skipped a beat.

Beneath the photo, Brie added one more text.

[If you really love him, don’t make things hard for him by acting out.]