That night, Charlotte texted me.

She sent a photo of my old master bedroom, newly renovated in her taste, and a close-up of an enormous diamond ring. After the signing tomorrow, Gavin’s going to propose to me in front of everyone, she wrote. I do hope you’ll be watching from whatever cheap little room you’re renting. I looked at the message for a moment, and then I set the phone down without answering.

She would find out tomorrow, along with everyone else, exactly what I had been doing while she picked out paint.

Chapter 14 — The Doors Opened