‘You’re too much work.’
David’s words echoed in my head.
I cried alone on the couch until my chest ached. Until my eyes swelled shut. Until Zoe's light went off down the hall and the apartment fell silent around me.
Shane texted three more times before I finally turned my phone off completely.
Shane
Maya, I'm getting worried. Just let me know you're okay.
Did something happen? Talk to me.
Then, an hour later.
Shane
Okay, you probably fell asleep. I'll call you in the morning. I love you.
I love you.
The words that were supposed to mean something. The words everyone said right before they left.
I curled into myself on the couch and waited for morning to come.
He showed up the next evening.
Of course he did. His shift ended, equipment recertifications done, and suddenly he was at my door.
"Hey, you." He leaned in to kiss me. "I tried calling. You didn't answer my texts last night or this morning. Everything okay?"
I stepped back before his lips could reach me.
The smile faded.
"Maya?" He searched my face. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"I saw the article." My voice was flat. Dead. "I saw the photo."
"What article? What photo?"
"Don't." The word cracked like glass between us. "There’s a picture of you going around with some woman at O'Malley's."
Shane went still. Then something like recognition crossed his face.
"That was... Maya, that was nothing. She's someone from before. She came up to me at the bar. I told her I was with someone."
"You didn't mention her."
"Because there was nothing to mention. She hit on me, I shut it down. End of story."
"And the article?" I held up my phone. The headline glared between us. "The comments? 'Teen mom energy, desperate to lock him down?’ 'He'll be gone in a month?’"
Shane's face darkened. "That's bullshit. You know that's bullshit."
"Do I?" My voice rose. I couldn't stop it. "Because everyone seems to think I’m some desperate single mom who trapped you, and maybe they're right. Maybe I was just a project. The struggling teacher you 'rescued.' A good story to tell your friends. A headline."
"Maya—"
