“Yeah, because he’s your best bud. I fuckingknow, Maisie.” I can practically hear his eye roll. “But things will be changing once you move in with me. No more nights with him when I’m not around. No more hanging out, not in my apartment, or I’ll?—”
I hang up.
I wasn’t moving in with him in the first place. Nor would I ever give up my time alone with Nate. Rob always said he trusted me. Now he’s changing his tune.
Was he always going to do this? Tell me I needed to not be around Nate?
Rob calls again. I send one text.
Maisie
I choose Nate.
Rob
Seriously? You’d choose him over your fiancé? Because of some guy talk?
Maisie
Did you forget all you said about me tonight when you thought I wouldn’t hear?
Rob
You’re the one making it a big deal.
Maisie
Because it is.
You’ll get your ring back in the mail.
Then I turn my phone off before I take it back.
My heart pounds as I stare at the black screen. Did I really just dump him?
Until five minutes ago, that wasn’t an option. I thought I could work it out. Sure, we may have delayed the wedding. We may have had to do counseling, but it could work out.
And then he made me choose between him and Nate.
I squeeze my eyes shut as I slide the engagement ring off my finger. Everyone is going to bepissedat me. The wedding is in two days, and I just called it off.
“Maisie, open the door,” Nate says from the other side. “Please. I need to know you’re okay.”
I’m not okay. I’m very muchnot okay. My hands shake as I slowly do what he asks. Nate stands on the other side. His eyes go wide as he takes me in.
“Whathappened?”
“I . . . dumped him.”
“Youwhat?” His eyes dart to my hand, which is now bare. “I ...”
Silence envelops us both as a tear escapes me. I’m pulled into a hug before I know what’s happening. It’s been a very long time since Nate and I hugged. Actually, I can’t remember the last time we touched at all. The scent of orange and cedar is foreign to me, and nothing about him should be foreign to me.
Still, I cling to him, gripping his dress shirt tightly. I realize that his height has its advantages here. He’s everywhere, and it’s hard to have any other thoughts when he seems to be able to make the world melt away. He’s the one stable thing in my life right now. How could I ever not choose him?
It feels right, just like this hug feels right. I miss this. Ineedthis.
And that’s when he lets me go. I blink back into the moment, trying to figure out how to ask him to do all of that over again. My entire body feels cold in a way that has nothing to do with the temperature.
