Built Him Up and Left Him Behind

I took a deep breath, fighting back my tears.

It was frustrating that Cade thought of me that way too.

I looked up and glared at him. "You've been thinking that all along, haven't you? "That's why you paraded Caitlyn on stage for your speech."

He slammed his fist down on the table and stood to yell at me. "Enough! I told you we're just colleagues. She helped me so much. What's wrong with her joining me on stage? Do you think everyone's like you, stuck with a dead-end job and no ambition? All you do is a bit of housework. What else are you good for?"

I flipped a bowl of soup over his head. The warm broth dripped from his hair to the floor. It was a sticky mess.

But instead of hitting the roof, he laughed and slowly took the bowl off his head.

"Fine! Stay here and cool off. I shouldn't have come back," he said, grabbing his jacket and storming out.

The room fell silent once again.

I looked at the book, opened it, and tore off the page with their writing. I crumpled it and threw it in the trash, then went upstairs to pack.

We shared a bed for five years. Every corner of the room still held traces of us.

Halfway through packing, I saw Cade return, pulling two suitcases. Behind him was Caitlyn, crying dramatically.

"I'm sorry to trouble you guys, but I have nowhere else to go," she sobbed.

Her smugness when she texted me earlier was gone, replaced by weakness.

I slowly stood up, speaking calmly. "So, you're moving in?"

Cade stepped in front of her, protective. "Don't overthink it. I brought her here because she can't afford her rent. And she is scared of the dark, so she'll have to stay in our room."

"You wanna share a bed with her?" I scoffed.

Caitlyn's eyes widened at my blunt words. "No, you got it wrong. Cade and I are just friends."

Cade took her hand and looked at me like a stranger. He sulked, "Take it up with me, not her. Don't go crazy again."

I didn't bother to argue with him. It was pointless. Instead, I nodded, packed my things, and headed out.

"Wait," Cade called out, grabbing my wrist and eyeing my stuff. "Leave the lamp."

I made that lamp myself because I couldn't sleep without light. He knew that, but he still demanded it.

Blocking my path, he asked, "How much does it take? Caitlyn can't sleep without a light."

I looked down at his hand and pulled free. Taking it as my reluctance, he lectured me until I handed over the lamp.

It was fine if they wanted my scraps. They could have them.

Cade paused, then shoved the lamp into Caitlyn's hands.

"If you'd been this reasonable this morning, we wouldn't have fought," he snorted, throwing his arm around Caitlyn's waist and leading her straight to the master bedroom.

I grabbed my luggage and went back to my old place.