Butterflies don’t cross mountains and
rivers
Chapter 1
The day before my flight attendant tryouts, my
boyfriend of five years, a pilot named Jake, got
someone to remove my birthmark, and I ended
up with a bunch of tattoos instead.
I woke up from the drug and was furious about
to go to him.
But when I went to confront him, I saw him,
normally so composed, completely lost in
passion, pinning the woman who’d been the
ringleader of all my high school bullies down on
our bed.
“Tattoos are a no–go for the interview, Jake. I
fought so hard to get her that slot, and now, she’s done for,” Brenda, the bully, purred. “They
can lasered off, but I wanted her to have a little
scar, just so she knows not to try any funny business again.”
Jake frowned, then slapped her hard across the
face. “How could I ever hurt her like that? I love
<
her! I’m warning you, stay out of our business and don’t you dare try to screw us up!”
Brenda just giggled, holding her cheek. “Oops, sorry. Maybe you could slap me somewhere else, handsome…”
The whole scene played out in front of me, a
mess of lust and betrayal. My heart just crumbled, and I turned and walked out.
He thought I was obsessed with him, but I had
—
something he didn’t a system. And right then,
its cold voice pinged in my mind: “Confirm
target change?”
“Yeah,” I said, my voice flat. “I do.”
The world was wide open, we were going our
separate ways, no need to ever cross paths
again.
I was wandering aimlessly when I passed the
farmer’s market down the street. Mrs.
Henderson, who was closing up her stall, smiled
at me.
“Your Jake was here earlier, buying enough
food for a feast. That’s a keeper you got there,
Г
girl!”
Jake had always been on top of things in our
everyday life. I used to brag about it too.
“Those two are so good together! Heard you
got that flight attendant job? You big shot busy
bees better tie the knot soon!”
My eyes stung and I just shook my head, unable
to speak.
Everyone’s praise and my shattered dreams felt
so unreal.
Jake, after he fell for me, his “affection meter”
had shot to like 100%. He returned every good
thing I’d ever done for him tenfold.
But ever since Brenda showed up, that near-
perfect score just froze.
And now, he’d cheated without a second
thought, and even screwed up my life for her.
My body still felt weird from the drugs, and my
heart just kept pounding with pain.
I passed a flower shop, and there was Jake,
pulling up in his car.
I loved flowers, and he got me new ones three
times a week, he always made it a point, even
く
after sneaking around, he hadn’t forgotten.
He was back to his charming self, getting out
of the car in a rush, looking a little put out
when he hugged me.
“Babe, why’d you leave early? I was worried
sick!”
I didn’t bother calling him out on it. His sense
of timing was impeccable, perfect for sneaking
girls into our place.
The florist came out, pointing to the counter
inside. “Mr. Miller, your flowers are all ready!”
I saw two bouquets, one was a popular, generic
arrangement, the other was clearly picked out
by someone personally.
The arrangement on the right had black roses.
I’d seen it a million times in his photos.
He stiffened, his face clouding over. “I only
ordered one!”
Brenda sashayed into the shop, the wind
chimes tinkling as she passed, and snatched up
the fancy one.
Her new and old love bites were on full display
as she moved.
<
Brenda giggled and lightly slapped Jake’s chest.
“Oops, sorry, she got it wrong. This one’s
mine.”
She never said a word to me, only a smug look
that just screamed her triumph.
Jake glared at her, but forgot to explain
anything to me.
I felt a knot in my stomach, I didn’t want to see
any more, so I went the other way.
It was only a few blocks home, but he didn’t
come after me.
Standing in front of the mirror in my room, my
fingers shook as I took off my shirt.
A giant butterfly with wings spread wide across
my back, and a few more on my arms.
Jake walked in just as I broke down.
I had gone over it again and again in my head.
He was a pilot; how could he not know the
airline’s rules?
“Why did you do this?”
I was the highest–scoring candidate in my
class. I was a shoe–in for graduation, with a
great future.
I had been training non–stop, and he had
noticed, making me healthy meals with the
same devotion.
Our wedding was planned right after I officially got the job.
But then he gave my spot away for Brenda,
tossed all my efforts away like they meant nothing.
