The Girlfriend He Didn’t Save

My family's mall was running a major New Year's Eve event. My father, the chairman, sent me to oversee the floor as a shareholder.

That night, the crowd built past capacity, and a stampede broke out.

I was at the bottom of a pile, suffocating. My boyfriend, an executive at the mall, was reaching past me. He was lifting my best friend out of the crowd. She didn't have a scratch on her.

He cradled her and disappeared down the corridor.

The comms earpiece on my headset stayed on. His voice came through it.

"Vivian, are you okay? How could you listen to her? How could you let her drag you somewhere this dangerous?"

"Don't worry about her. She’s built tougher than you—she can take it.

But you... You’re too delicate to be marked by scars."

They got Vivian out. I had a broken rib and was admitted in critical condition.

After the dust settled, I asked Cole why he hadn't prioritized me.

He looked me in the eye. "Mall events are managed. Look at you. You're fine. This is my promotion window. You're my girlfriend. If I had pulled you out first, that's favoritism. Don't make a scene. Go check on Vivian. She was scared half to death."

I tightened my fist under the blanket.

I called my father.

"Dad. The stampede at Hartline Mall. I'm calling the hearing myself."

My father had been furious before I told him about Cole's attitude.

When he heard, the line nearly cracked.

"Fine. Honey, you take the floor tomorrow as a shareholder. I'll back every word."

I hung up and lay back.

The pain in my side from the broken rib came in long pulses. The image from the night before played in my head–bodies pressed against bodies in the dark, foam falling like snow over our heads.

The door opened.

Vivian Shaw walked in, her eyes red. The moment she saw me, tears spilled over.

"Selena, I'm so sorry. I should have made him save you first."

I held her gaze. The calm I had built began to unravel.

While I had been pinned in the crowd, the comms earpiece on my headset had stayed on.

I had heard her ask, "Cole, is this happening because of me? Because I asked you to set off the foam?"

I had heard him cut her off. "How could it be your fault? I would have done it whether you asked or not."

"You remember? I promised you a romantic New Year's.

"After tonight, I'm done with Selena. We can be together

"Don't worry. I'll say the venue had insufficient on-site security. Nobody will trace it to us."

The earpiece had been a supervisory mic. I was the only one wearing it that night. I had assumed it was just a formality.

That was when I learned the truth.

The best friend I had known for ten years… had been involved with my boyfriend for who knew how long.

The stampede had not been