He Fumbled a Lifetime

I got into an elite college with my boyfriend, Philip Jewitt—and tossed my acceptance letter in the trash.

His mom was dying. He stood in front of me, eyes red. "Stella, she doesn't have time... If she finds out I dropped out to pay for her treatment, it'll destroy her. Please. Help me. I swear I'll treat you right for the rest of my life."

Philip got four perfect years on campus.

I scraped by, working three jobs.

I paid his tuition. Covered his mom's bills.

After graduation, he needed startup money. I convinced my parents to mortgage our house.

When his company went public, he proposed in front of everyone.

I thought all those years finally meant something.

But then he heard his one-sided love, Winnie Schell, died in a car crash. He got drunk and shoved me to the floor.

"Why wasn't it you? If I didn't feel guilty about you, I would've married her."

I clutched my stomach, pregnant, begging through tears.

He sneered. "You owe Winnie everything. You really think you deserve my kid?"

Then he kicked me—hard—right in the stomach.

Pain ripped through me. Blood pooled between my legs. My vision went dark.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back—one hour before the college application deadline.

The second I realized I was back, I opened my laptop and changed my application.

Last time, after the SATs, I made it official with Philip and applied to the same school in Crestport.

This time, I picked the school I actually wanted—in Borevia City, the capital.

After I hit submit, I checked my phone. Philip had posted five minutes ago.

[Maybe Heaven gave me another shot to see you. This time, I won't let go.]

The photo showed him and Winnie, leaning together, fingers laced.

I stared at it and let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

So he came back too.

And the first thing he did? Confess to his childhood friend.

Fine. This time, he can have whatever he wants.

I'd just shut my laptop when my phone rang.

Philip.

"Stella, my mom's sick. I need money. Now. Lend me some."

I froze. "Why should I?"

He sounded so sure of himself. "Relax. I'll write you an IOU. I'll pay you back after I graduate."

"No money."

Silence—then he laughed.

"Stella Spencer, you're my girlfriend, and you're this petty? If you don't help me, I'll have to drop out and work. You okay with that?"

"What does that have to do with me? I said I don't have money."

"Fine! Then we're done!"

I hung up and blocked him.

What a joke.

He'd already gone public with Winnie—and still tried to threaten me with a breakup.