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Prologue
Echo
Can you feel your heart breaking?
Maybe I’m the first.
Cozi Adair. That’s the name of the girl who stole my heart. The air from my lungs. It’s not her fault. I know it isn’t. How would she know?
I watch her, wrapped in his embrace. She’s stunning. Of course she is. That whole family was blessed. Her brown skin glimmers under the lights, high cheekbones dusted with the same gold shine.
They look good together.
What a fucking announcement. Even I’m just finding out. Three years. Three fucking years and they apparently only meant something to me.
The gala is lovely, everyone dressed to the nines. It’s our first one. They probably planned this. I wasn’t even aware he knew Cozi. Her family is a big deal, everyone knows the elusive Adairs. We’re barely anyone.
But she’s wrapped up in his arms, dripping in gold, she looks like the luxury she grew up in. I heard she was trying to start making music. How did he meet her?
Why didn’t he—
Why the fuck didn’t he tell me?
I force my eyes to look away; There’s no point in torturing myself. I leave. Just walk away. I have no idea where I’m going but I can’t fucking breathe.
I choke back tears as I hurry out the large doors to the venue. How could he do this to me?
“Echo.” I ignore my name as I round the corner, leaning against the building.
I’m drowning. The air around me is thick and heavy and none of my breaths seem to hold.
“Echo—“
I look up to see a concerned Callum standing just a few feet away. So close I could reach out and touch him, but too far to hold. He always looks so handsome, especially tonight. This was our first appearance as public figures. I know I shouldn’t be outside like this. Especially not drawing Callum out here with me.
But I just. Can’t. Breathe.
“What?” The word bursts from my lungs with a broken shout. My head falls so I’m staring down at my fancy new stylist shoes. I can’t look at his sad, golden, puppy-dog eyes. I can’t let him in when he’s the reason my heart feels like it’s fragmenting in my chest.
I hold back a sob when I feel his hand touch my shoulder, his towering frame blocking the light from my view.
Don’t look up. Wait for him to go.
Please, leave so I can fall apart alone.
“Are— are you okay?” The low tumble of his voice is the match spark I needed to explode.
“Why should you care?” I say, finally looking up at his beautiful face. I summon every bit of resolve I have so I can say this. I need to say this. He quickly jerks his hand away.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice breaks a little, but I stand high, refusing to let another tear slip through. Not as long as I’m looking him in his eyes.
“Tell you..? About Z?”
Z…
Whatever was left of my heart evaporates right then. Now, it’s easy not to cry. The water in the air has become flame.
“How dare you?” He’s backed up a few feet again, closer to where he was standing before, but I won’t let him evade me. “No. How fucking dare you Callum? Not a warning, no prior introductions— we’re supposed to be your best friends—“ I inhale a shaky breath, “I’m supposed to—”
