“See, I got all this stuff. Will they like it?”
He looked nervous.
く
It was too late.
And some people don’t wait. They leave.
“It’s too late. We broke up. My parents want
my real husband.”
Chad was stunned. His smile faded.
“So, you’re serious?”
I didn’t answer.
He wanted me back, but he could only grab
air.
Chad stared at his hand.
“Why? Was it because I let Ashley use the
condo? She’s a relative. I was helping ”
“I know Ashley is your ex from college. What
were you thinking?”
Chad yelled.
“Okay, I’ll play. I want the item that makes
Rainey happy.”
He sounded like a kid.
I shook my head.
“Love isn’t a game. We’re done.”
My phone rang. My parents wanted me to
come to dinner.
I left.
Chad was standing there crving
く
Chad was standing there, crying.
Life was nice. But my mom kept asking about
my love life.
One day, she said, “We have a guest for
dinner. Be home on time.”
I knew it was a guy.
I got off work, and it started raining.
I texted my mom that I was going to be late,
and then I went to a café.
I walked in, and the bell rang.
The barista greeted me.
get coffee and sat down reading
<
I got coffee and sat down, reading a
magazine.
Then it rained harder.
The bell rang again. Someone was running
from the rain.
I didn’t look up.
Then, someone walked over with coffee.
“Hi, is this seat taken?”
I looked up and saw a familiar face.
“Liam Hayes! Long time no see.”
“Rainey Bell, it’s been a while.”
<
We caught up.
He was my neighbor. We’d grown up
together. But he moved in high school and we
lost touch.
The boy was now a man, the founder of a
startup.
Time flew by.
I looked at my phone. My mom had called
several times.
“See you later.”
Liam smiled.
“Yeah, see you soon.”
I got home, and he was at my door.
Liam smiled.
“How soon?”
“You’re the guest?”
I started to laugh.
Liam grinned.
I was going to invite him in, when Chad
showed up, soaking wet.
“Rainey, who is he?”
Chad was holding an umbrella, but it wasn’t
enough to keep him dry.
He reeked of desperation.
He’d come back for me?
“Not your business. Go home.”
Chad frowned.
“I was worried about you and brought an
umbrella.”
Liam said, “You’re going to stand at her door
and give her an umbrella? You could just mail
her the money.”
I laughed.
Chad never cared if I got wet.
He was trying to get my sympathy.
Chad begged, “Can I dry off?”
He was trying to get my parents on his side.
He was a user.
