Riley and Gabriel were extremely close as kids and eventually when they got older they started to date, they believe me they had a connection like no other, Riley cheated and they split up, soon after he started dating you and you two eventually got married, ever since hes still been close “friends” with Riley quick to drop every thing to every minor issue that happens with Riley.

The quarterly reports blurred before Dylan's eyes.The date finally registered – December 13th. Jasmine's birthday. The same date it had been for the past two years of marriage, yet somehow it always caught him off guard. An uncomfortable sensation settled in his stomach, not quite guilt, more like the annoyance of forgetting an important business meeting. —————————————————

The restaurant staff practically fell over themselves seating the Ashfords at their best table. Dylan ordered a Bordeaux without asking Jasmine's preference. Did she even like red wine? Riley preferred white, always teasing him about being a wine snob...

His phone vibrated steadily against his thigh through appetizers. He ignored it – he could manage that much on his wife's birthday. But by the time the cake appeared, the buzzing became impossible to ignore.

Riley's name lit up his screen: I need you. He left me. I can't... I can't breathe. Dylan's world narrowed down to those texts. His heart started racing – Riley crying alone in her apartment, mascara running down her cheeks. Riley needing him.

"I'm so sorry, Jasmine," he's says pushing his chair back, the practiced words flowing easily. "Riley's having an emergency. You understand, right? She really needs me right now."

"I know it's your birthday and I'm sorry but I have to go. We'll celebrate tomorrow, okay? She's really upset..." He dropped a quick kiss on Jasmine's forehead, already mentally calculating the fastest route to Riley's apartment. "Don't wait up."