“I think it’s about time I moved on from this place.”
His tone lacks the same melancholy sentiment he offered the crowd seconds ago. I should have expected none of our conversations to sink in. With an exaggerated huff, I shake my head and turn away.
“Summer, wait.”
He respects my space and doesn’t touch me this time. The fact that this could be the last conversation we ever have is theonly motivation for turning around. I’d rather finish what I intended to do and have nothing left unsaid.
“You were right, okay? I’m jealous of you.” He grips the back of his neck, eyes cast to the floor. “I envy the freedom your parents fostered and the lack of fear you have surrounding money. I was taught to believe it’s a finite resource that only a stable income can provide. Whenever you walked away from a job, it triggered a form of trauma in me I was never prepared to face. It wasn’t fair to put that burden on you, and I’m sorry.”
I find myself nodding along. We’ve uncovered more realizations in our relationships in the last few weeks than we have in years. “We didn’t take the time to ask the hard questions,” I say. It set us up for failure from the start. “And I don’t fault you for needing something different in a partner. I just wish we hadn’t wasted so many years stuck in the same pattern of hurting each other before realizing that.”
“I know. Me too.”
I dip into my pocket, pinching the gold band with the cushion cut diamond between my fingers. “Here,” I say, holding it out to him. We both stare at it, the only symbol left of our broken union. I brought it tonight knowing it was my last opportunity to give it back.
“You should keep it. I gave it to you,” he says, refusing to take it from me.
But I open his palm and drop the band in the center, releasing myself from everything it tethered me to. “I don’t need it anymore.”
I don’t needhimanymore.
He seems to get the sentiment. His jaw slackens and his shoulders slump forward. It’s funny… Brian was the one who initiated our divorce, but I think he might be the last one to realize its finality. The one who is having the hardest time accepting it.
“I want to find something I’m passionate about. The way you have with helping these kids express themselves. I meant it up there. You did an amazing job with this talent show.”
His praise isn’t needed in my life anymore. Doesn’t mean the compliment doesn’t feel good.
“Thank you. What will you do now?”
“I’ve lined up a few job shadowing opportunities while I’m off for the summer. It feels scary not knowing what comes next, but exciting at the same time.”
“I’m happy for you,” I tell him. Despite everything, I still want what’s best for him. I loved him. In some ways, we’re in the same spot, him and I. We both settled down before getting a chance to figure out who we were on our own. What we wanted out of life.
“I’m happy for you too. And I’m sorry,” he says one final time.
It’s not the apology that brings me peace. It’s walking away knowing we both get a second chance at happiness that does.
I know I’m well on my way to that happiness by the found family that’s waiting for me in the hallway.
“I have the most kick-ass friend!” Julia shouts when she sees me.
“Ass is a bad word,” Henry says.
Julia blushes, and Jake looks at her like he’s never been more proud, or turned on.
“Nice one,” I tease as Emma hugs me.
I spot Everett shaking the hand of a gentleman in a suit. They’re both standing next to a smiling Blake.His dad came.
It’s all I can focus on until Emma lets go and a broad-shouldered guy reaches for her hand.
“You must be Nathan.”
His eyebrows pinch, and he points at me. “I remember you. You were the nanny at the party.”
I chuckle. “Something like that. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You were a natural out there,” Everett’s dad butts in.
