The Moment My Blood Ran Cold
A nervous laugh moved through the room, but Ryan did not smile.
My stomach dropped.
For one terrible second, every doubt I had buried returned.
Had he lied all these years? Had he secretly resented me for falling in love with Emily? Was he about to humiliate us in front of everyone we cared about?
Beside me, Emily’s hand tightened around mine.
Claire gasped from the front table.
I could hear my heartbeat louder than the speakers.
Ryan walked toward us.
“You took my first girlfriend,” he continued.
The room went completely silent.
I wanted to disappear.
I thought about every stupid argument we had ever had and every moment when I had wondered whether he truly forgave me.
In that terrifying instant, I genuinely wished I were an only child—just long enough to escape the humiliation I was certain was coming.
Ryan stopped in front of our table and reached inside his suit jacket.
He pulled out a thick leather travel wallet and dropped it in front of me.
The sound was small, but in the silence, it seemed to echo across the room.
