“Do you mind if I ask why?”
Her eyes softened along with her voice. “Because it’s been easier to believe the opposite, especially lately. But your words are like spring pushing away the dark winter nights.”
“That’s a beautiful way to describe His word. I like that. But it upsets me to know you’ve felt otherwise.”
Leyla pushed her plate away, clasped her hands on the table, and frowned. “I was in a long-term relationship a few years ago. Ethan and I were together for almost three years.” She looked away from me, her frown deepening. “I thought it was serious, that we were headed for a future together. He had given me every indication that he felt the same way.”
“I already don’t like this man.”
She huffed out a laugh and shook her head. “He wasn’t a bad guy. But looking back, I missed the signs. I had taken over as CEO and was working an enormous number of hours. I could see he wasn’t happy anymore. Made excuses for his bad moods.
“The things aboutme, about us, and how we were together weren’t what he wanted in the end. He started saying I worked too much and that I was neglecting him. Turned out they were only excuses for how he really felt.”
“That was incredibly selfish of him to say. He should’ve supported you. That doesn’t sound like how someone who loves you should act. Not that I’m an expert, but I can see that clearly.”
“No, it’s not how you would act if you were in love,” she whispered. “It should’ve been obvious to me that I was losing him, but I missed it. When we spent time together, I tried to put work aside, be present and happy, the way we’d been in the beginning.”
“That should’ve shown him the effort you were making,” I said, wanting to find this man and either throttle him for making her feel this way, or thank him for setting her free.
“Yeah,” she said with a humorless laugh. “You’d think so. But my ‘bubbly personality’ suddenly grated on his nerves.” Her fingers made the quotation mark sign, indicating she was being sarcastic.
When I didn’t say anything, she went on. Her eyes were fixed on the table in front of her, almost trance-like, not focusing on anything around her. “He said I was too,” she swallowed before going on, “loud, too much, too complicated.”
My feet shifted under the table. I didn’t know where I thought I was going, but I couldn’t stay still. She didn’t need a neanderthal right now, so I planted them firmly.
“Too loud and toomuch?” I repeated in an angry voice I didn’t recognize. The rage inside me was palpable, and my hands fisted.
“At first, Ethan loved my outgoing nature. Said it was what attracted him to me at first. But in the end, he said I was just too much for him. When he broke it off, he also told me I just wasn’t what he was looking for anymore.”
“He’s an idiot,” I spit out. “A complete idiot for letting you go. But I’m grateful he did. You don’t deserve to be treated that way. Your personality drew people in when we knew each other before, Leyla. You still do. Your personality brings people together and makes them feel welcome. God created you that way, intentionally, to be a light in this dark world. No one, and I meanno one, should ever try to extinguish that light! I believethat is His purpose for you, or one of them anyway. To bring light, to share light.”
I didn’t realize how angry I had gotten until my hands shook when I reached for hers.
Those jewel-toned green eyes were stormy and tear-filled. I pulled out the pack of tissues I’d started carrying with me after the first time I’d seen her cry. She nodded her thanks and wiped under her eyes. There was nothing I wanted more than to stay in this bubble with her. A bubble that allowed me to touch her like this, comfort her.
But people were starting to look at us, so I asked, “Do you want to get out of here? We can walk a bit.”
Nodding silently, she wiped her eyes with a napkin while I settled the bill. Once out in the sunshine, I heard her take a deep breath.
We walked side-by-side down the sidewalk to a nearby park. I checked my watch, and we still had about ten minutes before we were both expected back at the office.
“Thank you, Niko. You’ve come to my rescue twice in a matter of days now, when I became a blathering fool,” she said through a watery laugh.
“You’re not the fool in this scenario. Not at all. And I’ll always be here to wipe your tears.” The words were out before I could stop them. She looked at me and smiled, wiping away the last tear with a loud sniff.
“I believe you, friend,” she said softly.
Great. That word again.
“Do you and Ethan stay in touch?”
“No. He moved on quickly. Toward the end, when I brought up marriage, he said he wasn’t ready. Weeks after our split, he was posting pictures with a beautiful brunette, and what felt like a minute later, she was tagging him in a photo on her socials with an engagement ring.”
“He cheated on you?” I barked out.
“No idea. Of course, I never asked, but one of her posts said something about love at first sight, so maybe it was sudden.” She shrugged it off, but I could hear the tone in her voice change.
“I am so sorry. Well, I am, and I’m not. He didn’t deserve you, but you didn’t deserve to be hurt like that. How long did you say it’s been?”
