A man rounded the corner whom I never wanted to see again.
“Kevin?” Just when I thought my heart couldn’t sink any lower.
“Claire. Thank God, you’re okay.” He scooped me into his arms as though we were still a couple. As though it hadn’t beenmonths since he kicked me out.
“Dad, I’ll call you back,” I said as I pushed myself free from his spindly arms.
“Was that Kev?” he asked.
“Hi, Ralph,” Kevin called as I ended the call.
The last thing I saw was my dad flipping him the bird, unbeknownst to my ex.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“I wanted to see you before you left. I’m in town for a meeting and saw your car,” he said. That’s right, he had said that because, inexplicably, he continued to text me even though I never responded. I should have blocked him.
“Why? I have nothing to say to you?” I stood from the milk crate and pretended to look in my packed boxes.
“Don’t be like that. I’m here to help you.” He smiled, and I clenched my jaw.
“Come to New York. You can find work there. Now that all the stuff with the article is behind us, let’s get engaged.”
He got to his knee and pulled a black box from his pocket. My eyes widened, and I looked around for a hidden phone because surely this was the making of a viral video.
This was insane.
“This is insane,” I said.
Then it occurred to me. I never did know how he knew about me being fired before I did. He shouldn’t have known any of this …
Unless…
“You think your boss would be cool with you shacking up with the woman who almost brought down a different finance guy?” I asked tentatively.
He gave a small and condescending smile. “First of all, no, you didn’t. There was never any chance that article was going to get published. His pockets are way too deep, and he has way too many supporters. Anyway, they didn’t even care when I told them we were dating.”
“We aren’t dating.”
“But we were, and if you come with me now, we will be again.”
“Did you tell them about the article, Kevin?” I asked cooly, even as a fire raged up my esophagus.
“Like I said, it wasn’t going to get published anyway. It’s time to move past this and start fresh. You’ll love New York.”
My mind instantly thought of Cozy Creek and how comfortable I felt there. More so than I ever felt in the hustle and bustle of even Colorado Springs.
“Does every man think offering a place to live is some sort of golden ticket access to my heart?” I said.
“Has this happened more than just today?”
“You’d be surprised.” I sighed. “Kevin, even if I was desperate, I wouldn’t move in with you. Not now, not ever. We are not on the same page at all. I won’t be made to feel bad for having a moral compass, and I’m so much more than arm candy for your blooming career in New York, so you can go now. Your offer is ridiculous, and so are you. Please never talk to me again.”
“Come on, Claire, don’t be like that! I’m on my knees here.And this floor is really hard,” he whined.
Had I ever really loved this man? Having felt what I did for Levi, it was not possible. I was comfortable because I had, at some point, made the decision to be with Kevin, but I never loved him. The thought of it made me feel ill. Whatever I felt for him was gone and now replaced with oily regret that made my skin crawl.
“Am I interrupting?” a new voice said.
