02
(02
I just let his call go to voicemail Put of course, he just wouldn’t quit, so I eventually had to pick up the phone “Hailey! Did you really go to Twilight Summit without m
Peter’s voice was low, but I could hear he was pissed off
“Didn’t we agree we’d go together after the wedding?
“Listen, you’re a woman. How could you just go that far by yourself? What if something happened to you there?”
The background noise was a circus, with nurses calling out patients‘ names left and right.
Guess he’s at the hospital again
just shrugged it off, replying, “There wasn’t. I just wanted to go.”
Hearing him act like the concerned fiancé just almost made me laugh.
We’ve been together for eight years, and every year, I’ve brought up going to Twilight Summit.
It was my mom’s last wish, after all.
But every single time, Peter had a new excuse to shut me down.
“Babe, I’m caught up with work right now. I’ll take you when I can.”
“Something came up at home. Let’s just go next year.”
“I’m just too busy
Last year, Ebrought it up again.
But he didn’t even bother with excuses anymore. He just flat–out refused, not even hiding his annoyance.
Honestly, I was so done with this endless waiting.
“If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.
Before Peter could respond, I hit that red button and felt a wave of relief.
Later that night, I was in my study, totally focused on my laptop.
Then, out of nowhere, Peter chucked a piece of cloth at my face
“Look, babe, can you clean up your mess? You’re leaving your dirty clothes all over the place!”
Damn, the sharp embellishment hit me hard enough to scratch my face. It hurt like hell!
“I found that under the couch. Seriously, just get your stuff organized, alright? Don’t let it happen again.”
Looking down, I realized it was a revealing, low–cut nightgown. My voice came out cold.
“That’s not mine.”
Peter’s expression shifted, and he seemed to realize something, his face uneasy
He bent down to grab it off the floor and hid it behind his back.
“Oh, this must be Josie’s from when she stayed over last time. I’ll make sure to get it back to her.”
I didn’t bother saying a damn thing Just went back to focusing on my laptop.
But Peter looked all quilty, pulling out an old band–aid from the first–aid kit.
He sat down next to me all cautiously.
“Look, babe, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown that stuff at you. I didn’t see that sharp thing.”
God, that Band–Aid smelled like shit!
I just turned away, saying, “It’s nothing”
Then I took my laptop and headed to the bedroom
Peter stood there for a while. I could feel his eyes staring at me as I walked off
He was like that for a long while
“Hadley, why haven’t you checked up on me lately?”
“Honestly I feel like something’s off with you A
“Honestly… I feel like something’s off with you. Are you avoiding me?”
Peter walked in, fresh from the shower.
He raised his hand and wiped his damp hair with a towel, acting like he was all nonchalant but clearly annoyed:
I stopped what I was typing for a sec.
Oh, looking back, I realized that for the past eight years, we used to chat almost every day.
Even when busy, we’d find time to stay connected,
He practically became part of my daily life.
But then he’d get all defensive, saying I was just “checking up” on him.
Now, I look back at our chat history, and there’s nothing there–not a word in half a month.
Guess this whole “space” thing was what he wanted. Now he’s acting like it’s a problem?
I just gave a small smile.
“Nah, Peter, you’re overthinking it. I’ve just been busy lately–I don’t want to keep bothering you.”
“Get some rest.”
With that, I shut my laptop, grabbed my pillow, and headed to the study.
Crazy to think, even after eight years together, we’ve been living like strangers for the past six months.
I mean, I can’t stand the smell of smoke, and for a while, Peter quit for me–three solid years
But then Josie came back, and all that effort went up in smoke.
Josie is his childhood friend, the one who’s always had a special place in his heart.
They’re close enough that they don’t think twice about sharing a bed like it’s no big deal–just ‘cause they’ve done it since they were kids.
And there I was, sick and needing him… but one call from Josie, and he’d be out the door, no hesitation at all. At first? Damn, I was jealous, bitter as hell.
I used to feel insecure about my fiancé being so inseparable from his old friend.
Now? Couldn’t care less. Even if, say, Josie’s off having my fiancé’s kid, it doesn’t bother me.
I’ve already made up my mind–I’m leaving.
As I was walking away, Peter suddenly shouted.
“Babe!”
He called out to stop me.
“Well, I just brushed my teeth. Got rid of the cigarette smell. How about we… sleep together?”
I didn’t turn around.
And Peter desperately got up and hugged me from behind.
“Babe, we’re getting married in two weeks. Isn’t this what you wanted? A home?”
A home?
Those words hit so deep that my eyes got welled up
Yeah, I’d wanted that, dreamed about it for eight years.
Ever since my mom passed away so early, I’d craved security and a place to belong. I’d hoped to build that with
Peter.
But then I realized his life was always going to be a mess.
He’ll never really let go of Josie,
If this is how it’s gonna be forever? Then I’d rather be homeless.
I took a shaky breath, pushing his hands away.
“Let’s just talk about it later.”
If this is how it’s gonna be forever? Then I’d rather be homeless:
I took a shaky breath, pushing his hands away
“Let’s just talk about it later.”
With that, I left the bedroom and quietly closed the door behind me.
