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“Itisthe truth. It was only one time. Russ was consoling me about what happened between us. He’d just shown me the photos, and I was a complete wreck. He told me everything would be okay, spewing some weird shit, and before I knew it, he was kissing me.”
“Oh, putting the blame on him now?”
“Yes, because I didn’t kiss him back! Clearly, you didn’t stick around because I pulled away almost immediately. I told him I didn’t have those kinds of feelings for him. I never would, and it was never like that with me and him. We argued because I thought he was my friend. He got mad and stormed off. I’ve barely heard or seen from him since that day.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“And I don’t care if you do. I don’t need to prove anything to you. You know what, I don’t know what we were thinking. This was a mistake.” I turn my back to him, trying to catch my breath. “This is why we can’t do this.”
“Cal, we can.”
“No, we can’t because there’s always gonna be something that brings us right back to the past.”
“Ask me about it. Ask me about that day. I will answer everything. Anything you wanna know.”
I turn to face him. “I don’t want to know. I don’t wanna hear it.”
“Why? Because you’re afraid that maybe I’m right and you’ve been wrong? That you jumped to conclusions? That I didn’t do anything wrong, andyoufucking blew us up for nothing?”
I suck in a sharp breath. “So you’re saying I did this to myself?”
“Callie, I’m saying I did nothing wrong. And if you don’t want to hear my side, I don’t know how to prove my innocence.”
“Don’t bother. Your words mean nothing to me. I will always look at you and remember that day.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Wow, was she that good? Ever think about her while you’re up on the cliff? Have regrets about what I messed up for you when I walked in and—”
“I was going to fucking propose to you that day!” he yells. His words stun me. “I came home to get ready because I was going to cook for you, then get down on one knee, pour out my fucking soul to you, and ask you to marry me.” Each word is a slap to the face.
“No.”
“Yeah.” Oh, God. The little black box in his closet. “You walked in on some random girl I’d never seen before. She came at me, and seconds later, you opened that door. She was on me, but only because it happened so fast. I was just as shocked as you were.”
“No,” I repeat myself.
“Yeah. Believe it. I did nothing but love you. That day, I was going to make you completely mine because I couldn’t imagine another second without you. And then you lost faith in us and walked away.”
“I saw her—”
“I don’t give a shit what you saw! You know what? You’re right. This isn’t workin’.”
He storms out of the kitchen and slides into his winter boots.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“Away from this. It’s taken me a long time to be okay with my life. To feel numb. Then you show up and make all that pain come back tenfold. I’m done begging for something that meant little to nothing to you.”
Easton opens the front door and slams it behind him. I stand motionless in his living room. I don’t know how much time passes before my legs finally work, and I run into his bedroom, throw his shoes out of the way, and rip open the top of the shoebox. I stare at the small black box. I open it and cover my mouth as a sob rips out of my throat.
Inside is the most beautiful princess-cut diamond ring. He was going to propose to me. But I jumped to conclusions and allowed someone else to convince me of a lie. He’s right. I didn’t trust him enough. I walked away.
I grab my stomach, feeling as if someone punched me, crumble to the floor, and sob my eyes out.
***
I don’t know how much time passes, but Easton still isn’t back when I retreat from the closet. I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s been over two hours, and I know he left without a jacket. Pushing back the window shades, I look outside. He took the snowmobile. But where could he have gone? It’s too cold to be out this long without a jacket. I try to convince myself that he’s a big boy, but as more time passes, I worry. He’s mad. But not angry enough to freeze to death. He’d come back and throw me out before doing that.
