Jasmine was counting down to the end of her time at NYU. Her thesis was finished. Her time spent chained to her adviser was coming to a conclusion. Her brother Topher had called days ago to set up a time to come with his fiance to bring a truck to bring her and all her stuff home. It was bittersweet. She'd be back in Boston, but she wouldn't be with Colin.

Looking around the small apartment she'd rented with the roommate she'd had since Freshman year, she contemplated how much her life had changed in those six years. She'd been so optimistic when she first came to the city. She'd come thinking that in four years she'd have her BA, and she'd go home and teach, but then she'd been offered the path to her Master's. She spent the summer before her fifth year doing multiple pro and con lists. At the top of every pro list was Colin, starting her life with him was the first thing she could think of, but he'd kept telling her that she had to push forward.

Had he really meant it? Or had he just liked his freedom by that point? She had to wonder. Maybe she'd really put herself on the shelf. Pushing herself out of the running, out of the way, all the way in New York, had made it much easier for Colin to see his life without her. So, of course it made sense for her to keep reaching for higher education. He wanted to keep reaching for someone better.

She realized that having these thoughts rolling on repeat weren't helping. And they definitely weren't getting the apartment packed. She grabbed the boxes that Topher had delivered and started taping them together. In two weeks, she'd be back in Boston. Then she could figure out the next step. One foot after the other, that was the key, she told herself. The Claddagh ring was still on her finger, she couldn't bring herself to take it off just yet. She'd make the final decisions soon enough.

COLIN DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF ALLY MEETING TOM PIPER

After playing HORSE in the Garden, skinning dipping in the Harbor, and ending up in Ally's bed Colin wakes up next to Ally. Something he swore he'd never do again, wake up in another woman's bed. Forgetting Jasmine, and her place in his heart, again. He nearly jumped out of his skin, recalling the promises he made Ally the night before.

He pales as he recalls trying to show her how important her love of the little sculptures she creates are, and how little the addition of another number to her sexual history would be. He knows that he hasn't told her about finding Jake Adams, yet, but wonders why he should. Maybe Ally is his chance at starting over, perhaps that's why Jasmine hasn't gotten back in contact with him, maybe they're meant to move on.

He's trying to convince himself of the truth of it. He's selling her on the idea of lucha libre wrestling, and authentic Mexican food, but she's already jumping from the bed, where no sex was had the night before, to rush to her sister's side for more wedding planning, and he hears himself offer to go as her date. Even though he knows her sister can't stand him. Even though he knows this feels wrong. That something isn't right.

And as he lies in her bed, she grabs the phone and rushes out, and he rolls over wondering when everything will fall into place, like Jasmine always predicted.

JASMINE'S APARTMENT MOVING DAY

Jasmine's brother and his fiance Scott arrive ready to move mountains. Or at least a load of boxes. They aren't prepared to see his sister looking like she hasn't slept well for weeks. And they aren't really ready to see how unhappy she is, after all, she's about to graduate with high honors and a Master's degree. To say Topher, as she calls him is concerned is an understatement.

As Scott grabs another box, Topher takes Jas' hand and sits her on her roommates sofa. "What's up, Jas? You're looking like a ghost."

She sniffled, and barely glanced at him. Shrugging, she takes a sip out of her bottle of water. "Nothing, just tired from all those hours working on my thesis, big brother." She hopes she sounds convincing. She just wants to get through the move. There's no time to break down, and Topher is too empathetic for his own good.

He forces her to look at him. "That shit will work for Dad, but not on me, and sure as hell not on Mom. So try again, lil sis."

She glares at him for a moment then gives up. "Fine. Colin found someone else." She sits her bottle of water down and purses her lips. "It's all my fault, of course. I mean, I told him that we were on a pause, so he had all the opportunity in the world to find my replacement. And so, he did." She found herself twisting the promise ring on her finger. "I guess I should take this off, huh?"

"I'll kill him." Topher says, gritting his teeth. "That bastard, I'll wring his damn neck."

"No, you won't." Jasmine says, standing up, and pulling her big brother to his feet. She hugs him to her. "You won't because like I said, I gave him the permission to find her. That was my brilliant idea, Topher. I told him I didn't want him waiting in the wings for me. I didn't think it was fair for us to have to hold out for each other. I even used that stupid quote. Like it was fucking true." She rolled her eyes.

Scott came in then, seeing the siblings hugging. "What's going on?"

"Colin, idiot of the century, is with a different girl now." Topher growled, over the top of Jasmine's head.

Scott, not missing a beat, came straight over and joined the hug. "Dumb ass." He kissed Jasmine's head. "Doesn't know what he's missing."

Jasmine sniffled. "You two are all that a girl like me needs right now." She gave a weak sob, then pulled away. "Let's get back to loading the truck. I want to go home."

THE JAKE ADAMS DEBACLE

Ally had picked up Colin's phone, by accident of course. It seemed to happen rather frequently, if he was being honest. She'd read that he found Jake Adams, and she demanded his information. So much for Ally being his second chance. Maybe Jasmine wasn't working in mysterious ways. It still didn't make any sense about why he hadn't heard from her though.

He went back through his call logs again. The last call he had from her came in at one time and date. Looking at it, he realized that the call before and after were numbers he didn't recognize. Performing a reverse number search, like a good police officer offspring should have done before, and he realized his mistake. They were numbers that Ally used. One was her sister Daisy's, the other was something else she'd used before. He had to exercise more control than he knew he possessed to stop himself from smacking his head on the table he was sitting at.

He could guess what had happened. Jasmine called his phone. She asked for him. Ally had his phone. She answered. And she came up with an entirely inappropriate excuse for where he was, and it was all because he hadn't told either woman about the other. FUCK. His entire life was screwed and all because he'd decided to help the neighbor across the hall.

No wonder she wouldn't answer his phone calls or texts. He had no idea what Ally had told her, but he could guess. And he'd nearly convinced himself that he was falling for her. Jesus. He was deluded. Did he even deserve Jasmine? The last time he'd talked to her he was angry over a situation she couldn't change or even have a choice in. And now her family probably knew. FUCK.

He considered his options. He could call her, but he knew she wouldn't take his calls. Understandable. Christopher, her brother, might be an option. He'd want to kick his ass, also understandable, but he'd take the call. Closing his eyes, Colin dialed.