All In No Regrets Except Losing Her Chapter 03
I wake up with my head pounding and my phone blowing up.
Quinn what’s going on with the venue??
Quinn, your aunt keeps asking if the ceremony is still happening or not
Quinn Marie Callahan, you better call me back RIGHT NOW and explain why the hell you’re canceling.
My head is killing me.
I sit there for a long time before it sinks in. Last night actually happened.
Three years I waited for that ceremony. Gone. Over a stupid cup game.
I press my fingers into my temples. Open my phone.
99+ unread.
I play Ivy’s voice memo.
“Quinn… what I said last night? I meant every word. So. Yeah. Heads up.”
Below that, a text from Silas.
Left an apple on your nightstand. Eat it. And don’t forget — a bet’s a bet.
Zane’s chat? Nothing. Blank.
Someone threw up a group photo on their story from last night. Caption: happy birthday forever crew
Warm filter. Everyone grinning.
I’m standing in front of the cake, candlelight on my face. I almost look like I’m having a good time.
Someone replied underneath: wait so when’s the ceremony lol
They wrote back: haha shh mind ur business
I take a breath. Call Zane.
“Quinn?”
In the background — Ivy’s voice. “Zane, my head’s killing me…”
He doesn’t let me get a word in.
“Hey — can you deal with the family stuff? Just let everyone know. And go by the office, sort out the Ball setup, whatever the fees are I’ll cover it.”
“I can’t get away right now. Ivy’s been throwing up all morning, her stomach’s a mess. I’m taking her to the nurse.”
He doesn’t even say sorry.
He just assumes. The way he always does. That I’ll handle it. That I’ll say okay. That I’ll clean up his mess the same way I have for three years.
“Okay.”
I hang up.
I grab an empty box. Start pulling out everything that’s his. Everything that’s us.
The scrapbook he stayed up all night making sophomore year. Little notes in his messy handwriting. Ticket stubs. Polaroids.
There’s a dried rose petal tucked inside from our first anniversary. I barely touch it and it crumbles to red dust between my fingers.
The matching mugs we made in ceramics. His wobbly Z&Q scratched into the bottom.
Faded now.
And then there’s the bracelet.
Freshman year. Zane’s first real Circuit game. Everyone told him the table he picked was garbage. Nobody backed him.
I gave him everything I had saved up. Slid it across like it was nothing.
When he won, he lifted me off the ground and kissed me in front of everyone.
“Quinn, I’m gonna get you the most beautiful bracelet you’ve ever seen.”
“Something that lasts forever. That’s what you are to me.”
Three years. Over a thousand days.
I thought we already won.
Didn’t think he’d gamble away our future over a party game.
I pack it all in. One thing at a time.
Carry the box downstairs. Leave it by the donation bin near the dorm entrance.
A sophomore walking by stops dead.
“Wait — you’re throwing all this out? This stuff is so nice though!”
I smile.
“It’s yours if you want it.”
She stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. Starts pulling things out carefully.
I slip the Promise Ring off my finger. Drop it in.
“Oh. This too.”
She just stands there. Mouth open. No words.
I walk across campus to the admin building.
The woman at the events desk looks up when I come in alone.
“Quinn? Just you today?”
“Yeah — he’s handling the family stuff. Letting everyone know we moved the date.”
Her whole face relaxes.
“Oh thank god. I thought you were pulling the whole thing. So when do you want it moved to? I can fix it right now.”
“Day after tomorrow. Thanks.”
I step outside. The sun’s too bright.
I look up at the sky.
Something that’s been sitting on my chest for years — I feel it finally lift.
Three years of dreaming.
I’m awake now.