Chapter 4: The Ghost Returns

But of course, just then, Lily came back to the States.

Her return was the talk of the town. Everyone wanted to know why she’d come back, what she wanted, if she’d changed. I tried to act like I didn’t care, but I was terrified.

The first time we met again was at a friend’s party.

The room was packed, music blasting, people dancing and laughing. I spotted her across the room, looking as flawless as ever. My stomach dropped. Of course she looked perfect.

Three years had passed, but she hadn’t changed much—just even prettier, and a little thinner.

Her hair was longer, her smile a little sadder. She wore a simple black dress, but somehow she managed to outshine everyone else in the room.

That familiar face, that familiar smile.

She caught my eye and waved, her smile wavering just a little. I forced myself to smile back, even as my hands shook.

The moment their eyes met, the air between them seemed to freeze.

It was like watching a movie in slow motion—the way Duane’s breath caught, the way Lily’s eyes widened. The whole room seemed to hold its breath.

Lily’s gaze held sorrow, nostalgia, joy, and unease all at once.

She looked at him like she was seeing a ghost, or maybe a dream she’d almost forgotten. I felt like an outsider, watching something private unfold.

She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and reached out to Duane. “Long time no see, Duane.”

Her voice was soft, trembling just a little. She held out her hand, and for a moment, I thought he might take it.

By contrast, Duane looked almost indifferent. He slipped his arm around my waist. “Long time no see.”

He pulled me closer. His hand was steady, but his voice—cold. I could feel his heart pounding, even through his shirt.

His tone was calm. “Let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Maddie Quinn.”

He said it with pride, but there was a hint of something else—defiance, maybe. I smiled, trying to look confident.

I nodded stiffly at her.

My throat was dry, my palms sweaty. I managed a polite nod, hoping no one could see how nervous I was.

Lily’s face went blank for a moment. She stared at him, lips trembling, as if she might fall apart any second.

Her eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away. I almost felt sorry for her—almost.

Thankfully, Jesse caught her from behind before she could lose it in front of everyone.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, steadying her. He shot Duane a look that could have melted steel.

Jesse looked me up and down, then turned to Duane, his brow furrowing. “You’re saying she’s your girlfriend?”

His tone was skeptical, almost accusing. I bristled, but Duane just tightened his grip on my waist.

Duane’s gaze flicked to Jesse’s hand on Lily’s waist, then quickly looked away, his expression growing colder.

There was a flash of something—jealousy, maybe—in his eyes. But he didn’t say anything, just stared Jesse down, like he was itching for a fight.

Jesse spoke up.

He launched into his speech, voice rising above the music. People started to turn and listen, sensing the drama.

“Do you know what Lily’s been through these three years abroad?”

His words were sharp, almost accusatory. He looked at Duane like he was daring him to argue.

“She was seriously ill, and only specialists overseas could treat her.”

He paused for effect, letting the words sink in. Lily looked away, her shoulders shaking.

“Every day and night of pain, she kept going because she wanted to see you one last time.”

His voice cracked, just a little. I could see the pain in his eyes, the way he looked at Lily like she was the only thing that mattered.

Jesse’s voice grew angrier with each word.

He was practically shouting now, his anger barely contained. The room had gone quiet, everyone hanging on his every word.

Nobody said a word. The silence was brutal.

I listened, counting to three in my head.

I counted them off in my head, wishing someone would say something, anything, to break the tension.

Wait—this is straight out of Bridget Jones. Am I the sidekick in my own rom-com?

The realization hit me out of nowhere. I almost laughed, but the situation was too real, too raw.

So I’m Bridget Jones’s best friend?

I touched my chubby cheeks, feeling both worried and… annoyed.

Was I really the comic relief in someone else’s love story? The thought stung, but I couldn’t deny it.

After that, Lily tried every way she could to fix the rift between her and Duane.

She sent him flowers, left notes in his mailbox, even baked his favorite cookies. Nothing worked. He stayed distant, polite but cold.

But Duane stayed cold.

He barely spoke to her, barely looked at her. It was like she didn’t exist.

Even when Lily begged him with tearful eyes, he didn’t soften.

She showed up at his apartment one night, mascara running down her cheeks. He listened, then closed the door in her face.

It was like nothing she did could move him.

I watched it all from the sidelines, torn between relief and guilt. Part of me wanted to comfort her, but I couldn’t risk losing him.

“Why would you think that after you left for three years, I’d still feel the same about you?” He smiled, a hint of mockery. “Maddie and I grew up together. Besides my parents, she’s the most important person in my life. Why would you think I’d throw away all those years with her for you?”

His words were harsh, but I could see the pain behind them. He was trying to protect himself, to protect me. I wanted to believe him.

Lily’s face went paper-white. She covered her mouth, turned away, and crouched down coughing violently.

Her whole body shook, and for a moment, I thought she might collapse. Jesse rushed to her side, glaring at Duane.

Duane frowned, pulling back the hand he’d instinctively reached out.

He caught himself just in time, his expression torn. I could see the guilt in his eyes, even as he tried to hide it.

“Really?” After a long pause, she turned back to face him. “Then why, after three years together, have you never touched her?”

The question echoed in the room, impossible to ignore. I felt everyone’s eyes on me, waiting for my reaction.

Is this love, or just a big-brother thing?

The doubt crept in, cold and sharp. Was I just a stand-in, someone to fill the space until Lily came back?

“Duane, you know the truth.”

Her voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through me like a knife. I wanted to scream, to tell her to leave us alone.

Lily stared at him, tears trembling in her voice. “No matter what you say, I don’t believe you don’t love me anymore.”

Her confession hung in the air, heavy and desperate. I could see the hope in her eyes, the way she clung to it like a lifeline.