We sit in silence for a long while. I don’t know what else to say and I can’t seem to let this go.

“I just don’t understand why you need to do this. I’m sure that your mom will get over it.”

“Really? Are you really sure about that?”

I shrug.

Well, no, I’m not entirely certain but she will just have to, right?

“My mom will blame me for him cheating on me,” Sydney says, leaning back against the booth.

“Okay, that is really fucked up. But even if that does happen, so what? You deserve so much more than him.”

Sydney shakes her head.

“You don’t think so?”

“So, you would never forgive Nicholas if he cheated on you?” This time she does look up at me.

She peers directly into my eyes and I’m the one to look away first.

“I would never accept anyone treating me like that,” I say, clenching my jaw. “I deserve better and it would be a deal breaker.”

I try to imagine Nicholas doing something like that and I just can’t.

I didn’t want to say that but it’s true. He is capable of incredible deception and he does live a life full of secrets, but when it comes to cheating, I know that he would never do that to me.

Sydney shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

“Is it not the same for you?” I ask.

“It’s not so easy for me, Olive. Things in my life aren’t just roses and chocolate. I have the real world to deal with.”

I tilt my head to one side.

What is she talking about? No, this is about something more.

“What’s going on, Sydney?”

She buries her head in her hands. I put my arm around her and she just shrugs it off. I do it again, and again she shrugs me off. When she finally comes up for air, her eyes are covered in tears.

“Mom said she would cut me out of her will if I don’t marry him,” she says. Her voice is weak and barely audible. “She won’t leave me any of her money and she won’t support me anymore.”

I nod and put my hand on hers. I know that it probably doesn’t seem like a big deal to most people who don’t have family money flowing into their coffers every month, but Sydney relies on it. She lives off it and without it she will have to significantly cut back on her spending.

“It’s going to be okay,” I say. “You have a good job.”

“That’s the thing, though, I don’t. I got fired.”

“Well, that’s okay, you have a good degree and experience. You’ll be able to find another job.”

But Sydney just shakes her head.