Chapter 6
After the trip, Evan went back to the apartment we were supposed to move into together.
Half an hour later, he called me. "Where's your stuff?"
"I moved out," I said.
"The wedding planner told me you called off the wedding."
"Yeah."
"Summer, what the hell are you doing?" Evan snapped.
His voice sped up, sounding more agitated. "I told you I'd talk to you when I got back.
"Who gave you the right to cancel the wedding by yourself?"
I paused for a few seconds.
"Do I need anyone's permission to break off my own engagement?" I shot back.
Evan didn't say anything.
After a moment, he asked, "Where are you?"
I didn't tell him.
After I was off work that afternoon, I saw him waiting for me downstairs.
He looked worn out, even though it had only been a few days since we'd last seen each other.
He was holding a small paper bag, the one with the ring.
"Let's find somewhere to talk," he said.
I stayed where I was. "Let's talk right here."
Evan stepped closer. "There's nothing going on between Claire and me.
"Your mom and dad were around the whole time.
"Claire stayed in her own room at night, and I never spent time alone with her."
"Why do you think I called off the engagement because of whether you two slept together or not?" I asked.
Evan blinked, genuinely baffled. "Then what else could it be?"
I replied, "You knew they'd been lying to me for three years, but you still kept going on those trips with them.
"You slipped her the slip with 'Travel' on it yourself.
"Even after I opened all the envelopes and found that every single slip read 'Stay,' you still left with her.
"Aren't these valid reasons?"
Evan frowned. "She's your sister.
"I was looking after her to help you.
"I never did anything to hurt you."
For him, cheating only meant something physical.
He knew the truth, but still kept standing with the people who shut me out, even helping them pull off their little charade.
He thought all of that was him being considerate.
"Take the ring back," I said.
Evan reached out and grabbed my wrist. "Stop it."
I stepped back and yanked my wrist free from him.
After six years together, it was the first time I'd done that.
Evan stood frozen. "You weren't like this before."
"Back then, I had no idea the draw was a sham," I said. "And I never knew you were in on it from the start."
"I already explained," Evan said, raising his voice. "I thought you wouldn't get hung up on one trip."
"It wasn't only one trip. It was ten years," I said.
"That's between you and your parents. Why are you blaming me for it?"
"Because after you found out, you never once took my side."
Evan went quiet.
After a while, he said, "I figured you'd come back after a few days once you calmed down."
I nodded. "That's also what they thought.
"It doesn't matter because I always swallow it.
"I'll be fine in a few days, like always.
"And they always think everything can be fixed later."
Evan opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
I took out the expense sheet.
"I've already covered my part of the costs from calling off the wedding.
"We divide up the furniture and appliances based on what each of us paid.
"Unless there's anything left to settle, we don't need to keep in touch," I said.
"Summer," Evan called out.
He still used that familiar, gentle tone.
I turned to look at him.
"We're not close anymore. From now on, pretend you don't know me," I said.