Eight Years as His Second Choice

So this was what his promises and love amounted to.

I was the backup. The option that could be deleted at any time.

Every anniversary cut me like a blade drawn slowly across my skin. Every night I lay awake, aching for a man who never ached for me.

But not anymore. I was done hurting over him.

I said nothing. I just gripped the handle of my suitcase and walked toward the door.

Hudson seized my wrist, his voice spiking sharp enough to crack glass.

"Tabitha! What the hell is wrong with you? You wanted a wedding—I gave you the wedding I promised! What more could you possibly want?"

"Jean asked me that question today, and I didn't say yes!"

"But YOU—you stood in front of all those people and made a scene, telling everyone you were going to marry someone else!"

"You're the one who was out of line, Tabitha! What right do you have to be angry at ME?"

I lifted my gaze to his reddened eyes and let a faint smile settle on my lips.

"I told you, I'm not angry. I'm just going home."

"Home?" Hudson jabbed a finger toward the door. "You're an orphan nobody wanted! What home? Where exactly are you going to go if you walk out that door?"

He always knew exactly where to aim the knife—and he always twisted it.

There was a time I would have screamed. Fought back. Cried until my voice gave out.

Now I just looked at him, steady and still, until guilt bled through the anger in his eyes.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean it like that. But Tabitha, you're the one who's wrong here."

"You shouldn't have said those things yesterday. What if people actually believed you? How are we supposed to explain that?"

I tightened my grip on the suitcase handle and spoke with my back to him.

"I wasn't joking. Every word I said was true—"

Before I could finish, the doorbell rang.

Hudson opened the door. Jean stood on the threshold, suitcase in tow, tears clinging to her lashes.

"Hudson… my landlord kicked me out. I have nowhere to go. Could I maybe stay here for a little while…?"

Hudson snapped into composure in an instant. He pulled her inside, took her luggage, started getting her settled.

"Stay as long as you need. No rush at all."

Jean's gaze landed on my suitcase. She tilted her head, feigning confusion. "Tabitha, are you…?"

Before I could open my mouth, Hudson had already supplied the excuse.

"She's going on a little vacation to clear her head. Don't worry—she won't mind."

The words I'd been about to say dissolved on my tongue. I let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

Then I turned away from the warmth and noise behind me, shut the door softly, and walked out of a home that had never been mine.