Page 27 of Prey Tell
“Answer the question,” I hiss, my heart beating a million miles a minute in my chest.
His face falls, but I know his answer.
Because it’s the same as mine.
I let out a quiet sob, covering my mouth with my left hand. Which reminds me—
Reaching down, I pull the engagement ring off. He looks as shocked as I feel.
“Here’s your ring back, Dylan.” I pry his fingers open and place it into his hand.
“What? Are you breaking up with me?”
Am I?I didn’t realize I was, nor that this would happen today. But the instant he says it, all I can feel is relief.
Relief that I won’t be stuck in a marriage where neither party is in love with the other.
“I think so,” I say quietly.
He nods once, still looking shell-shocked. But… he’s not fighting it. Not denying it. In fact, I think I see a hint of a smile on his face.
“Well, I never expected this,” he says slowly, rocking back on his heels. “But I respect your decision.”
“You do?”
I don’t know what I expected. Him to fight for me, maybe? I’m not sure.
“Yeah,” he says quietly. Looking around, he sighs. “I guess I should move out.”
I narrow my eyes. This seems almost too easy. But then again, everything about Dylan is too easy. He’snice. That’s his fatal flaw. I don’t wantnice.I wanthim to fight for me, to beg me to change my mind. Because that would mean he actually cares.
“I’m—um—going to finish my run,” I tell him, sniffing. “I need to clear my head. We can talk when I get back.”
He looks over at me, and it strikes me that he doesn’t seem sad. “I need some time too, Jules. I’ll be packed up by the time you get home.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
That was… whatwasthat? Did we just call off the engagement? Could it possibly have been that easy?
“And Jules,” he says, as I turn toward the bedroom door. I spin around to face him. “Maybe you’re right.”
“About what?” I ask.
“About not beingin love.” He shrugs, and the hardness in my gut—the same one I’ve been carrying around for weeks—dissipates completely. “I hope we can still be friends. I don’t want to lose you.”
I nod, thoroughly dumbfounded. “Of course.”
I walk down the stairs and swipe at my already-dry cheeks. That was… the easiest breakup ever.
I should feelsomething,right? I should be sad. I should be crying. Instead, all I can feel is relief. I jog out of the front door—the one I threw and left open only a few minutes ago—and jog down the block lighter than I have in months.
* * *
I should’ve taken the day off, but I suddenly have the urge to throw myself into my work. Dylan was gone when I got home after a ten mile run. I don’t normally run that far, but I wanted to give him time to pack his things—not that he ever had much. He’d arrived with a suitcase when he moved in, as if this house was a temporary stop between the apartment he rented with his friends, and our future house. His other things were in storage.
I’m such an idiot.
All the signs were there. They’d been there for years. I was so convinced my life was perfect from every angle… except the angle that mattered.
