Page 125 of The Jerk in Apartment 1B

“While you’re here, I might as well give you give this.” She hands me a check. “Sorry it’s late. I kind of forgot.”

“You’re not supposed to pay me this month.”

“Scott, I’m not letting you give me a month of free rent just for staying at your party for five minutes.”

“Sorry, but that was the deal.” I give her the check. “I’m not taking this. And don’t try slipping it under my door because I’m not going to cash it.”

She smiles. “You’re not going to make money as a landlord if you keep giving people free rent.”

“I don’t do it for everyone. Just you.”

She sets the check down. “So what do you want to talk about?”

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this week about what I told you. About Megan and what happened. And I’ve realized that—” I stop when I see it, my heart sinking.

She’s wearing a ring. A big, sparkly, diamond engagement ring. I saw it the moment she lifted her hand up.

She’s committed herself to Asher. She’s decided to marry him.

I’m too late. I waited too long, and now I’m too late.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Trina

“I gave him back the ring,” I say to Callie.

“When?”

“Last night. I went to his apartment and told him I didn’t want to marry him.”

“How do you feel? Are you okay?”

“I’m actually really good. It was the right decision. I wasn’t sure before, but I am now, and when I left his apartment, I felt so much better. Like I was finally free of that relationship.”

“I’m really proud of you. I know it wasn’t an easy decision, especially when Asher kept telling you all the stuff you’ve been wanting him to say, like about getting married and getting a house.”

“I still want that, but not with him. The more he talked about our future, the more I realized I didn’t want to be with him. I realized I don’t love him, and I haven’t for a long time.”

“What did Asher say when you gave back the ring?”

“He wasn’t surprised. He admits he didn’t put any effort into the relationship the past couple of years. He was hoping I’d be able to look past that and we could start again, but he understood why I couldn’t.”

“So what happens now? You think you’ll start dating again?”

“I don’t think so. I’m still getting over Scott. I’m more sad about losing him than losing Asher.”

“Have you talked to Scott since he told you about his fiancé?”

“Yeah, he came over yesterday. It was really weird. He said he wanted to talk, and he started to, but then said he had to go.”

“Go where?”

“To some meeting he forgot about, which he suddenly remembered while he was in the middle of talking to me. He just stopped mid-sentence and said he had to leave.”

“Yeah, that’s weird. Maybe you should go over there and ask him what he wanted to say.”

“I could, but if he really wanted to tell me, he would’ve come back here after his meeting. It must not have been anything important.”

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