Chapter 2
Now that I think about it.
He probably wasn't saying that to me.
He was saying it to Emily, who was already on a plane far away.
I was just the stand-in, the one left behind.
The backup plan, the one he'd never lose.
"Brian," I called his name again.
"What is it?" he answered, trying to maintain his patience.
"Emily needs you to help her settle in. And what about me?"
He froze.
He couldn't comprehend why I would ask such a childish question.
"You?" Brian let out a short laugh. "You're perfectly fine, aren't you?
"You've got a job, friends, and family.
"Emily's got no one. She's got nothing.
"Stella, since when were you this petty?"
Yeah. Petty.
I breathed in slowly.
There was a dull ache in my chest.
"So, the engagement party's canceled," I said. "You're going to be with Emily."
"I should be understanding.
"I should be considerate.
"I should wait.
"Is that it?"
Brian finally looked relieved, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "Exactly. That's the Stella I know.
"Relax, I'm just helping Emily through this. Once she's settled—"
"You don't have to wait," I said.
He stopped.
"What?" he blurted out, totally thrown off.
I pulled open the door to the private room.
The hallway light spilled in, slicing across his stunned face.
"Brian," I said. "Let's break up."
*****
By the time Brian chased me out, I was already at the entrance of the bar.
The night wind rushed in, making my coat puff out.
"Stella Thompson!" He grabbed my arm, his grip bruising. "Explain yourself!
"Break up? Why are you making such a fuss?"
I turned to look at him.
He looked genuinely confused, mixed with a flash of offended anger.
Like I was just making a scene for no reason.
"I'm not making a scene," I said. "I'm saying we're done."
"What's your reason?" he nearly shouted. "Just because I suddenly had to deal with something and postpone the engagement party?
"Stella, seriously? Don't be so immature.
"Emily just got back, she doesn't know anyone here. I'm just helping her out, we're old friends. What's wrong with that?
"Is this really the time for you to act up?"
A few passersby glanced over at us.
Brian caught himself, dropped his voice, but his words came out even sharper.
"Let's talk about this at home," he said. "Stop making a fool of yourself out here."
Making a fool of myself?
I stared at the hand tightly gripping my arm.
His nails were digging into my skin.
"Let go," I said.
He didn't move.
"Brian, I said let go," I repeated.
He stared into my eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation or defiance.
But he found nothing.
I was way too calm.
So calm it actually made him a little uneasy.
"Stella" Brian's voice softened a bit. "I know you're upset.
"But you can't just toss out breaking up like it's nothing.
"We've been together for seven years."
"Seven years," he repeated it, as if to remind me, and himself. "I remember your birthday. I remember every time you were sick.
"I just have a soft spot. I can't stand seeing Emily suffer.
"I promise it's just this once.
"As soon as she's settled, I'll come right back and we'll get married immediately, okay?"
He reached out with his other arm, trying to pull me into a hug.
I stepped back, dodging his embrace.
His arm hung awkwardly in the air.
"Brian," I said. "Your phone is ringing."
He paused, instinctively patting his pocket.
The screen lit up. The caller ID showed Emily.
He glanced at the screen, then at me, looking torn.
"Answer it," I said. "She might need something."
He hesitated for a couple seconds, then answered the call. "Hello? Emily?
"What's wrong? Hey, don't cry.
"Okay, okay, I'm on my way. Stay at the hotel. Don't move."
After he hung up, all that inner struggle disappeared. Now he was just in a rush. "Stella, Emily took a fall at the hotel. I need to go check on her.
"We'll talk about the breakup later.
"Go home for now. Once I handle this—"
"There's no need," I cut him off.
He pulled his car keys from his pocket, freezing at my words. "What?"
"I said there's nothing left to talk about.
"Brian, we're done."
His expression darkened. "Stella, what exactly do you want?
"I actually have an emergency right now!"
"Emily is all alone, injured, with no one to look after her."
"So go," I said, coolly.
He choked on his words.
"I'm not holding you back," I said. "You can go.
"Go be with her. Go take care of her. She needs you.
"You have my permission."
Brian stared at me, like he didn't even recognize me. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like." I glanced at the car keys in his hand. "Do you need me to call you an Uber?
"You've been drinking. You shouldn't drive."
As if burned by my words, he suddenly let go of my arm.
"Stella!" His voice pitched up. "Do you have to be so passive-aggressive?
"I told you it was an accident! Emily needs help!
"Can't you be a little more generous? A little more mature?
"You never used to be like this!"
What did I use to be like?
I thought about it for a moment.
When he wanted to game with his boys on a weekend, I quietly canceled our movie tickets and spent the night reading alone at home.
When his mother said she didn't like me wearing short skirts, I donated every dress in my closet that ended above the knee.
When he was working around the clock during his startup days, I rushed to his office after my shift to organize his files and order takeout.
When he finally secured funding, he threw his arm around his partner at the celebration dinner and declared, "I couldn't have done it without my bros."
When my dad was in the hospital for surgery, he didn't even call because he was busy celebrating Emily's birthday.
Whenever I felt wronged, whenever I wanted an explanation, he'd shut me down with "Stop overreacting", "Be mature", or "Emily has had a tough time."
I really wasn't like this before.
I used to be such an idiot.
"Brian," I said, letting out a slow breath.
The night wind cut through me, cold and sharp.
"Do you remember when we were fixing up our home?" I asked.
He frowned, obviously not in the mood for reminiscing.
"I ran all over town visiting hardware stores, comparing hundreds of tiles," I said. "Because you said you liked a matte finish, but complained about the price.
"Eventually, I found a cheaper alternative and saved one thousand dollars.
"You praised me for being resourceful then."
His face softened slightly. "Yeah, that's why I said marrying you was a smart move."
"That one thousand dollars," I cut him off. "Later, you used it to buy Emily's plane ticket back home."
"First class," I added.
Brian's expression froze.
"How did you know?" he choked out.
How did I know?
Because the payment was linked to my shared credit card account.
Because that night he got drunk and smiled foolishly at his phone, saying Emily praised him for being so thoughtful.
Because I was sitting right next to him, watching the chat history on his screen.
A selfie from Emily.