“Ethan, stop talking about him like that. He’s
important to me,” I interrupted.
The line went silent. Then I heard something
shatter. He laughed, each word clipped and
sharp. “You never said I was important to you,
Avery. Remember, I didn’t tell you to leave.
You’re still mine.”
“I’m not yours,” I corrected him, frowning. “We
weren’t anything after you went to California
for Olivia.”
He was silent for a moment, then asked softly,
“So this is revenge, right? You’re with him to
spite me? If I gave you a chance to take it back
My frown deepened. “Ethan, stop it. You and
Olivia are finally together. Just be happy.”
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He didn’t respond, his breathing heavy and fast. Then he hung up. I listened to the dial tone and sighed. He hadn’t changed. Mention Olivia, and his rationality returned.
I remembered one night, he’d called me, drunk, begging me to pick him up. I’d thrown a coat over my pajamas and rushed out, finding him stumbling drunk outside a bar. My hands were numb with cold, but he refused to go home. His friend apologized to me, then FaceTimed Olivia. “Let Olivia see what a mess you are.”
Suddenly, Ethan straightened up, sober as a judge. He opened the car door and got in. His friend and I stood there, staring at each other. He looked embarrassed and sympathetic. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do. Olivia’s the only
one he listens to.”
“It’s okay,” I’d said. “I don’t mind.” I’d made him
hangover soup that night, staying up to take
care of him, while he mumbled Olivia’s name in
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his sleep. A voice inside me whispered, Do you
really not mind, Avery? Then why are your
hands and feet so cold?
I sighed, pulling myself back to the present. I
looked towards the bedroom. The man I loved
was sleeping there. The past didn’t matter.
What mattered was now, and I didn’t mind
anymore.
Daniel and I started planning the wedding. I
went wedding dress shopping, ignoring Ethan’s
constant calls. My phone buzzed incessantly
with texts from him. He hadn’t texted this much
in a month. Avery, I haven’t let you go! Avery,
you’ll regret this! What are you doing? Answer
me! You never used to ignore me like this!
Exasperated, I grabbed my phone in the
dressing room. I’m trying on wedding dresses.
Stop texting.
A brief silence, then my phone vibrated non-
く
stop, as if he’d lost his mind. I gave in and
answered. “Ethan, if you keep this up, we can’t
even be friends.”
He ignored me, firing off questions. “What’s so
great about him? Marriage and dating are
different! Listen to me, Avery. Do your parents
even approve? Maybe I should talk to them…”
I cut him off calmly. “Ethan, stop it.” I
continued, my voice steady, “I’m getting
married, Ethan. He and I grew up together. We
know each other. We’re in love.”
He tried to interrupt, but I spoke over him.
“Olivia won’t be happy about this.”
He fell silent, his breathing uneven. I sighed. “I
told you, I grew up in foster care. I don’t have
parents. Why do you always forget?” I hung up.
He didn’t call back.
Daniel waited patiently outside the dressing
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room, not questioning why I took so long. When
I emerged, he held me close, not wanting to let go. “Avery, thank you for loving me.”
I hugged him back. “Thank you too.” We both grew up in foster care. We learned to cherish every kindness. Unlike Ethan, the spoiled rich kid who was losing his ever–obedient ex to another man, and having a meltdown because of it. I was sure he’d get over it. He’d move on.
I overestimated Ethan’s ability to accept reality. A few days later, right before the wedding, with my days filled with beauty sleep appointments, Ethan called again, late at night. He sounded
drunk. “Well played, Avery.”
I was losing my patience, already planning to
block his number. His voice was low and
hoarse, each word laced with regret. “Why
didn’t I look at the picture back then? Just one
glance and I would have known.” His voice
cracked with anger and hurt. “But I didn’t even
. : ._
1- – –
Lima
441
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look. I brought him back, got him treatment, and handed him to you on a silver platter. I’m such an idiot! I didn’t even look at the picture! I set myself up!”
He was trembling with rage. He lowered his voice, clearly trying to control himself, but the tremor remained. “Avery, were you… using me as a replacement?”
