After I Stopped Waiting, She Begged Me to Stay

"An invitation?"

Hilary called out, "Norman, didn't you say it had nothing to do with you? Then what's this?"

Everyone crowded around.

The phone had been snatched from Norman's hand, and the name on the screen was clear for all to see.

"No way! Phyllis! It's you!"

"The name's slightly off, but that's definitely Phyllis Sullivan!"

"Aren't you two both single? How is there already a wedding invitation?"

Hilary stared at Phyllis in shock. "Phyllis, what's going on? I thought you were single."

Phyllis glanced at the invitation.

She tossed the phone back.

"I have no idea. It's got nothing to do with me. Norman, why would you make something like this?"

I'd already made up my mind to leave. But watching her stand there, washing her hands of the whole thing without a second thought, I couldn't help the bitter smile that crept across my face.

In a situation like this, even a casual "Oh, he's just messing around" would've given me something to stand on. The smallest lifeline. I wouldn't have felt so humiliated.

But she had to pick the one option, out of every possible response, that left me with nowhere to hide.

Sidney sighed. "Norman, come on. Everyone can see what's going on between those two. Making a wedding invitation for the two of you right now? That's a bit much."

I turned off the screen. "It's a misunderstanding. My wife isn't her."

"That's right. His wife is Iris Sullivan, not me, Phyllis Sullivan. Don't get the wrong idea." Phyllis's words barely managed to give me a way out.

Everyone erupted into chatter again.

The whole thing was swept under the rug, messy and unresolved.

But I could feel it. People had stopped engaging with me.

In their eyes, I was the shameless one pining after Hilary's woman.

I didn't want to stay in that suffocating atmosphere a second longer.

I stepped outside to get some air, but Phyllis followed me out.

"I already told you I wouldn't agree to getting married next week. So why did you deliberately let Hilary see the invitation?"

She thought I'd done it on purpose.

She stood beside me, her voice cold. "Did you think pulling a stunt like that would pressure me into saying yes?"

"I told you, it was a misunderstanding."

"Enough, Norman." Impatience sharpened her tone. "Can't we deal with this kind of thing in private? You had to drag it out in front of everyone, making us all look bad, and then you'll go home and sulk about it. I'm not saying I'll never marry you. It's just a matter of timing. Why do you have to make it so difficult?"

She dropped that complaint and walked away.

I stared out at the pitch-black mountain road.

I let out a long breath.

Timing. Always timing.

I thought six years was enough.

When she first started the company, it was about protecting its growth. Marriage could wait. Once the company stabilized, there was too much business to handle. Big picture first. When the company finally secured its position at the top, she said she needed to think it over carefully.

I was patient. I didn't mind waiting.

But today, for the first time, it hit me that this was a wait with no end.

I spent the rest of the party texting my parents, going over wedding details.

They'd sent me the contact for the woman from the arranged match.

I'd just accepted her friend request when the party wound down.

Everyone stumbled out of the hillside estate, drunk and loud. Cars pulled away one after another.

Then I noticed something was wrong.

My car was gone.

"Norman."

Sidney's window rolled down. "Phyllis said Hilary drank too much and lives far away, so she took your car to drive him home first."

The window slid back up, and the car pulled away without another word.

The lights inside the estate went dark.

A mountain breeze swept through. I stood there, staring down the empty road, alone.

It was laughable, really. I was afraid of the dark.

Phyllis knew.

Every light in the house and at the office stayed on all night long.

If the power went out, she'd be at my side in an instant. She'd say it was because she was scared, letting me keep my dignity.

She left me here on purpose.

Probably because I'd pushed her about getting married.

I took out my phone.

At this hour, what driver would even be picking up rides?

I stared at the contact I'd just added.

I hesitated for a moment, then dialed.

"Ms. Sullivan, are you free right now? Could you... do me a favor?"