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“Yes. I’ve given it lots of thought and I’ve searched within myself, but I feel the connection I once felt to you is gone.”
I frowned, trying to figure out where this was coming from. Everything in our relationship was the same. Nothing had changed. I had gone through a hard time a few weeks ago when I’d lost my job, and sure our relationship wasn’t always roses, but then who’s was.
“Bailey, I don’t want to lead you on. That wouldn’t be fair. I just don’t feel this relationship is going anywhere. My feelings toward you, and us, have changed.”
I could just imagine the look of shock on my face. Here I was expecting a proposal and, well, instead, I was getting dumped on our anniversary.
“What?” I asked a little louder than I should have, shock filling my voice.
“Bailey, I can’t keep this up between us anymore. I just don’t feel the same way about us anymore, and I haven’t for quite some time. It’s not right to lead you on, making you believe everything is fine.”
My stomach turned, and I swallowed hard, fighting the burning sensation in my eyes from the tears that threatened to fall. I could feel eyes on me from every corner of the room as the patrons of the restaurant watched as my life shattered once again. I ripped my hand away from his, picked up my wineglass, and downed the contents as Jim sat and watched me.
“Bailey, that’s not the only thing.”
“I bet it’s not.” I murmured, still not believing what I’d heard.
“I’ve met someone else.”
“What?” I questioned, slamming the glass down on the table.
“Perhaps this was the wrong spot to do this,” he muttered under his breath as he looked around, noticing that people were now watching us.
“Perhaps this was the wrong spot to do this? Perhaps? Are you fucking kidding me? It’s our anniversary. You are supposed to be proposing to me tonight. Not taking me out to dinner to break my heart, you asshole.” I said through tightly clenched teeth.
Jim sat back and ran his hand over his face. “Proposing?” His eyes met mine. “Bailey, what are you talking about? What on earth would have given you that idea?”
I shrugged as Jim looked down at the table and then back at me.
“Justine.” I murmured. “She saw you shopping downtown, said you were picking out rings? The joke must have been on me. Did you ask me all those questions about rings and vacation spots to buy a ring and propose to this other person?”
“No, no, no. God, Bailey, I was there helping my brother. She must have seen me when he stepped away to take a call. He asked me to get your insight because he was going to ask Sarah to marry him on their vacation.”
“I see.” I said, fighting back tears. “God, Jim, I thought things between us were more serious than this.”
“Bailey, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what else to say.”
I could feel the burning behind my eyes and knew that tears weren’t very far, and before they started pouring, I needed to get out of this restaurant. “Good night, that’s what I’m going to say,” I said, standing and grabbing my clutch purse from the table.
“Bailey, I don’t think you should leave. Let me at least take you home. You’ve had a lot of wine. It’s not safe for you to drive.” Jim stood up and grabbed my arm.
I stopped and turned to look at him when I heard his phone ring. He held his finger up and pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the screen, then began typing away.
I let out a loud huff. “Yeah, I’ve had a lot of wine, and I can see you are busy. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure a cab takes me home. You obviously have more important things to take care of.” I said, looking at the phone. “Even in the middle of a breakup, you can’t leave that fucking phone alone.”
I left Jim sitting at the table and rushed out of the restaurant, fighting tears all the way.
* * *
The ringing phone woke me from a dead sleep. I lifted my head, a sharp pain passing through my temples. I dropped my head back down onto my pillow; and rubbed my eyes with my fists blinking hard. The brightness in the bedroom giving me an even bigger headache than what I already had. Why didn’t I pull the blinds?
I lay there trying to remember how I had gotten home. Had I taken a cab? Did Jim drop me off? Did I, oh god, had I driven? I went to roll over but felt restricted. Then I looked down at myself. The new dress I’d bought was wrapped tightly around me. No doubt it was all stretched to hell now. I let out a breath. My God, I had even fallen asleep with my clothes on. A loud ring went off again, and I reached over my head to grab the phone.
“Hello,” I said groggily.
“Hello, my engaged twin.”
“Engaged twin?” I questioned, rubbing my eyes.
