I couldn't even hold my boyfriend's hand for his cleanliness. But now? He didn't even flinch at Irene's touch. But now I knew—Irene was the one exception. She laughed a little too loudly. "And come on, I just help clean up around here. I swear, even though we sleep in the same bed, I've never crossed the line!" My vision spun. My hands and feet went cold. She looped her arm through his and flashed a bright smile. "Sorry about that, Bella!" I didn't make a scene, just looking at the man I had loved for seven years and saying calmly, "Micah, let's break up."

Chapter 1

On the day of our fourth anniversary—during Independence Day holiday—I cut my business trip short to surprise Micah Thompson.

But the moment I entered his apartment, a woman beat me up and dragged me to the police station.

"You're saying you're the lady of this house? Impossible. Mike is a neat freak. He's always lived alone.

"At your age, you've got a bright future. Why stoop to burglary? Officer, you gotta talk some sense into her!"

I ended up spending three days in detention before Micah finally showed up to bail me out.

The first thing he said wasn't an apology but a defense of her. "She's Irene Conway. A friend of mine. She's been crashing at my place for a while. She didn't know about you, so don't hold it against her."

Irene was wearing Micah's oversized jacket and the scarf I had knitted for him.

She looped her arm through his and flashed a bright smile. "Sorry about that, Bella!"

I didn't make a scene, just looking at the man I had loved for seven years and