My Boyfriend’s Weekend Escape Was With My Best Friend Chapter 08
There was a time that look would have made me weak. This time, I turned around and locked the door behind me.
I knew he was only sitting outside my door because he had nowhere else to go.
The little bit of savings he had was almost gone after the hospital bills. He probably couldn’t even afford a hotel room.
I walked right past him without a word.
“Where are you going?” he called after me. “It’s late.”
I stopped for a second. I remembered asking him that same question so many times.
He always got annoyed. “To work, obviously. How else are we supposed to live on the pittance you make? I’m killing myself for our future, and you’re still asking questions.”
I used to feel guilty, blaming myself for not earning enough. Now I realized he was the one who’d been holding me back.
I didn’t answer. I walked into the night.
With Jason waiting outside my door, I didn’t bother going back. I finished my shift and slept at the office.
The next morning, my phone was full of missed calls from an unknown number. I was about to call back when I guessed who it was.
Chloe had also sent me a string of texts. “Are you seeing someone new?”
We used to tell each other everything about our relationships. Now there was no point.
I deleted the messages and went back to work.
When I went home again, there were two people waiting at my door.
My mother stepped off the elevator and immediately grabbed my arm.
“How dare you hang up on me? You’re about to get married, and you suddenly call it off. Do you think you’re still a teenager? Who’s going to want to marry you if you throw tantrums like this?”
Jason limped over and took my mother’s hand. “Don’t blame Stella, Mrs. Hayes. At least she came home.”
My mother stormed into the apartment. Jason followed.
They sat down on the couch, and my mother looked at me.
“What are you standing there for? Can’t you see Jason’s leg is hurt? Can’t you at least get him some water?”
I didn’t move. My heart felt like ice.
When Jason and I first got together, he was actually pretty helpful. He’d jump in when I cooked or cleaned. But after he came to my parents’ house once, he stopped completely.
My father sat around while my mother did everything. She thought that made her a good wife. She’d been training me to be the same way my whole life.
Jason learned from him. My own family gave him all the confidence he needed.
“Say what you came to say and leave,” I said coldly.
My mother jumped up. “What kind of attitude is that? I’m doing this for your own good. Jason is a good man. He said he’s already getting the wedding ready.”
I looked at Jason. He coughed uncomfortably. “I am. I just haven’t had a chance to tell you yet.”
“Cheating on me while planning the wedding? How long have you been planning? A year?”
Jason’s face went crimson. He knew I was mocking him for those weekend escapes with Chloe.
My mother looked shocked. Jason clearly hadn’t told her about that.
I thought once she knew he’d cheated, she would drop the wedding idea.
Instead, she pulled me aside. “This is what you’re fighting about?”
“I’m not fighting. We broke up.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. This kind of thing happens all the time with men. He still wants to marry you. That means his heart is still with you.”
I stared at her in disbelief. I finally understood the secret behind her so-called stable marriage.
You can’t reason someone out of something they didn’t reason themselves into.
But I wasn’t going to be her.