Chapter 1: The Birthday Gift She Despised
“Ethan, please tell me you're joking.””
Those were the first words my girlfriend said when she saw the old gray sedan I'd parked outside Atlanta's most expensive hotel. Thirty seconds later, she would be begging me to kiss her in front of the same people she'd invited to watch her humiliate me.
But by midnight, her best friend would reveal a secret that would make the Porsche I'd bought her seem like the least important thing in the parking lot.
I stood beside the sedan with a small gift bag in one hand and a set of keys in the other. The late October air smelled like rain and expensive perfume drifting from the hotel's revolving doors.
Brianna had just turned twenty-eight.
For three years, I'd believed I knew the woman I loved. I'd seen her cry over rejected job applications, celebrated when she finally landed a position at a marketing firm, and paid her rent twice when her paycheck came too late.
I'd even covered the remaining balance on her old car when she said the payments were becoming impossible.
I'd never asked her to repay me.
Tonight was supposed to be different.
“Baby,” I said, smiling nervously, “happy birthday.””
Brianna looked from me to the sedan. Her designer heels clicked against the pavement as she approached the driver's side.
“What is this?””
“A surprise.””
She stared at the faded paint, the dent above the rear wheel, and the slightly cracked taillight.
Then she laughed.
Not the sweet laugh I'd fallen in love with.
The sharp, disbelieving laugh she used when someone embarrassed themselves in public.
“Ethan, this car looks like it survived three hurricanes.””
Her friends gathered around us. Ashley, her closest friend since college, was the first to pull out her phone.
“Wait,” Ashley said, angling the camera toward Brianna.
“Let me get this. This is going to be legendary.””
I frowned.
“Could you put the phone away, please?””
“Why?”” Ashley asked.
“It's her birthday.””
Brianna snatched the keys from my hand.
“Everybody, look!”” she announced, raising them above her head.
“Three years together, and this is what my boyfriend thinks I'm worth!””
A couple standing near the entrance turned to watch.
I felt heat crawl up my neck.
“Brianna, can we talk privately?””
“Privately?”” She gestured toward the sedan.
“What is there to discuss? You bought me somebody else's junk and expected me to cry with happiness?””
“I haven't explained anything yet.””
“You shouldn't have to explain a gift this embarrassing!””
Her friend Madison covered her mouth, but I could still hear her laughing.
Ashley moved closer to Brianna.
“Girl, I told you not to dump that rich guy!””
The words cut through the laughter.
I looked directly at her.
“What rich guy?””
Ashley froze.
Brianna's expression changed so quickly that I almost missed it. Her eyes flashed toward Ashley, and her fingers tightened around the keys.
“Nobody,” Brianna said.
“She's talking about someone from work.””
“Then why did she tell you not to dump him?””
“God, Ethan, must you interrogate everyone?””
“No. I'm asking a simple question.””
Brianna stepped toward me, lowering her voice just enough to make the next words feel personal.
“You know what your problem is? You think being a nice guy makes up for having no ambition.””
I stared at her.
For three years, I'd watched her choose apartments she couldn't afford and clothes she bought before paying her bills. I'd transferred money into her account without complaint when she called me crying at two in the morning.
Now she was telling me I had no ambition.
“Brianna,” I said quietly, “remember when your landlord threatened to evict you last winter?””
Her jaw tightened.
“Don't bring that up.””
“Remember who paid the rent?””
“Are you seriously holding that over my head?””
“No. I'm reminding you that I've never measured your worth by what you could afford.””
She rolled her eyes.
“That's because you don't understand what a woman like me deserves.””
Ashley lowered her phone slightly.
I noticed she wasn't laughing anymore.
Brianna tossed the keys onto the sedan's hood.
“I told everyone you were finally going to do something special. Madison's boyfriend bought her a diamond bracelet. Ashley's boyfriend took her to Paris. And you brought me a car that belongs in a junkyard.””
“Actually,” I said, picking up the keys, “I brought you something else, too.””
She scoffed.
“What? A coupon for an oil change?””
I reached inside my jacket and pulled out a second key fob.
Brianna glanced at it, then back at me.
I pressed the button.
Behind her, a brand-new black Porsche Cayenne flashed its headlights twice.
The parking lot fell silent.
Even Ashley stopped recording.
Brianna slowly turned around.
The Porsche sat beneath the hotel's golden entrance lights, its glossy black paint reflecting the illuminated windows. A red ribbon stretched across its hood. Through the windshield, a bouquet of white roses rested on the passenger seat.
Brianna's mouth fell open.
“Oh my God.””
She took one step toward it, then another.
“Ethan,” she whispered, turning back to me.
“Is that really yours?””
“It is.””
Her eyes widened.
“No. I mean, is it mine?””
I held up the key fob.
“It was supposed to be your birthday present.””
For a moment, she didn't move.
Then her entire expression transformed.
The embarrassment disappeared. The anger evaporated. Her lips curved into the smile I'd been waiting to see all evening.
She ran toward me and threw her arms around my neck.
“Baby! Oh my God! Why didn't you tell me?””
I stepped backward before she could kiss me.
“Because you wouldn't let me speak.””
Her arms slipped from my shoulders.
Behind us, the hotel doors opened, and a valet approached carrying a sealed cream-colored envelope.
“Mr. Carter?”” he asked.
“Here's the envelope you requested we keep with the vehicle.””
Brianna immediately reached for it.
“Is that the title?””
I moved it out of her reach.
“No.””
Her eyes flicked toward the envelope.
“Then what is it?””
I looked at her for a long moment.
“Something I planned to give you after dinner.””
She swallowed, then glanced at the Porsche again.
“Ethan,” she whispered, suddenly sweet, “were you going to propose?””
I didn't answer.
Instead, I turned toward Ashley.
“Tell me something. Who was that rich guy you mentioned?””
Brianna's smile vanished.
“Ethan, don't ruin my birthday.””
Ashley stared at her phone.
And then it rang.
The name on the screen was Marcus.
Brianna lunged for it.
“Don't answer that!””
Ashley pulled the phone against her chest.
For the first time that evening, she looked genuinely afraid.
May you like
“Ethan,” she said, her voice trembling, “there's something you need to know about your girlfriend.””
Then the hotel entrance doors began to open again.
