The $20 Million Secret That Destroyed Them

After a short silence in the room, Jordan frowned. "Martha, you're going too far."

"There can only be one legal representative. Nanette was being kind, letting you have it."

"And instead of thanking her, you stand there sniping like you think we're out to rob you. Is that fun for you?"

I'd only asked one question, and he'd jumped straight to Nanette's defense.

He really was in a rush.

"All right, all right. This was on us, we handled it badly." Nanette shot Jordan a look, then turned and explained to me, "Martha, I'm not the type who's cut out for the good life. I just want to clock in and earn my paycheck."

"Sign once the contract's drawn up properly."

"Come on, let's clean up and go get some seafood."

The temper Jordan had shown a second ago evaporated on the spot, and he apologized to me. "Sorry, Martha. I got worked up back there."

I didn't say anything, but it dredged up all the times we'd fought before.

Last time it was the air conditioning. I wanted it at 77, Jordan insisted on 78, nagging on and on about how I wasted money on the electric bill.

He only apologized to me after Nanette spoke up.

It seemed to go that way every single time.

So what did that make me? Just another piece in the little game the two of them played.

We reached the mall with the seafood restaurant.

"Let's buy some scratch-off tickets! See which of the three of us has the best luck."

Nanette suggested it.

"Sure."

Jordan agreed at once.

But something in me went taut, every nerve on edge, as I remembered what I'd said to myself eight years from now.

【Don't give the tickets to Jordan. There's a twenty-million prize!】

"Give me a hundred of them!"

Nanette left the clerk stunned, making him confirm it several times over.

Jordan nudged me with his elbow. "Martha, go pay. We're a couple, we can't make single little Nanette foot the bill."

"It's not easy for her, on her own."

I'd heard that kind of line countless times.

And I'd believed it.

Looking at it now, it just meant spending my own money to keep the two of them happy.

This time, I paid again.

Because hidden in there was the prize that would change my fate.

Just like before. I paid, but I got no chance to scratch anything. Jordan and Nanette bent over the tickets, scratching away with real enthusiasm.

Their luck was genuinely awful, though. They scratched through more than half and won nothing.

In the end Nanette tossed the tickets aside. "I'm done, this is boring."

"Oh, there's a bridal shop over there!"

And with that she grabbed Jordan and dragged him inside.

I didn't follow. I kept my head down and scratched the tickets, all the way to the last one.

The twenty-million prize finally came up.

My first instinct was to share the good news, but when I turned my head, I saw Jordan standing in front of the mirror with Nanette, who was wearing a wedding dress.

Both of them wearing happy smiles.

Exactly like a couple about to walk down the aisle.

I didn't interrupt them. I quietly claimed the prize, asked the shop to hold the announcement until seven days later, then turned and left.

Back home, the version of me from eight years later was nowhere to be found.

I was still puzzling over it when Jordan's message came through. 【Where did you go? How'd you just disappear? Nanette got all worried.】

【A little tired. Came home to rest.】

I replied.

Jordan went quiet after that. He was probably secretly relieved I wasn't there, so he and Nanette could have their time alone.

All afternoon.

I looked at apartments, and at the same time reached out to a number of professionals, asking about how to put on an art show.

That evening.

Jordan came over and pulled out a jewelry box. He opened it to a necklace.

"Nanette and I picked it out for you together."

It was a style I'd wanted, but had never let myself buy for the longest time.

"You were really off today. Jealous? Was it because I went dress shopping with Nanette?"

"She just wanted to try them on. We're all good friends. Don't be so petty about it."