A fight?
No, Chad never really fought.
He just looked at me with this patient, almost
condescending look, like I was being
unreasonable.
My phone buzzed. Chad calling.
His voice was still sweet, but there was an
edge to it.
“Busy day? You didn’t make me breakfast
before you left.”
“It was our anniversary yesterday. I got you a
“What is it?”
“It’s in a little box in my jacket pocket. A
ring.”
He was rustling through his pockets. “Weird. I
can’t find it.”
Then, realization dawned on him, and he
awkwardly said, “Probably left it in the truck.
I’ll get you another one.”
I smirked.
In that picture from last night, Tiffany was
wearing a ring.
Did he ask his precious Tiffany to try on our
anniversary gift?
L
“Don’t worry about it. I forgot to get you
anything, too.”
“Lindsey? Are you mad? I really did get you
something.”
“Mmm.”
That’s all I said.
“I gotta go. Work stuff.”
After that, Chad and I were always walking on
eggshells around each other.
A few days later, Chad’s mom, who usually
couldn’t stand me, invited me over for dinner.
く
She’d always thought Tiffany should’ve been
her daughter–in–law.
I sighed and decided to go so she wouldn’t
think of me as impolite.
When I got there, Chad’s buddies were
already helping her set the table. When I
walked in, the room went silent. Someone
muttered,
“Why’d she have to invite her? Chad’s not
going to be able to hang out with us.”
I ignored them and found a seat.
Soon after, Chad showed up with Tiffany in
tow.
I noticed the ring was gone from Tiffany’s
<
finger. She breezed into the kitchen, chatting
with Chad’s mom like they were best friends.
Chad sidled up to me, grinning like an idiot,
and pulled out the ring.
He lied straight to my face.
“Found it in the truck.”
Like I wouldn’t notice the change. He grabbed
my hand and slipped the ring on my finger.
I stared at it, and suddenly, I felt sick.
How many lies had he told me?
“Oh, Tiffany, Lindsey can do that. You’re a
guest. Why don’t you go relax?”
Chad’s mom was cooing at Tiffany in the
kitchen, who was clinging to her arm.
“I just missed you, Mrs. Thompson!”
“You should come visit more often! I think
you forgot about Chad and me!”
Chad’s mom glanced at me, then pulled
Tiffany over.
“Oh, Lindsey, you haven’t met Tiffany! She’s
like a daughter to me, like Chad’s sister. You
don’t have to worry about them two. And
Tiffany, you should leave them alone. Don’t
make so many demands on Chad’s time.
Don’t you trust him?”
She stood in front of me, her tone practically
an order.
<
“Yeah, Lindsey, you always give us the third
degree. None of us guys would lead Chad
down the wrong path. And our company just
started up! Things are hectic! Tiffany has
even been hospitalized because she was
working so hard!”
“If they were going to get together, it
would’ve happened already!”
That was Mark, one of Chad’s best friends,
the one who’d posted the picture.
He’d always hated me. Now he was rubbing it
in, playing to Chad’s mom.
I frowned.
“What company? What’s this about a
startup?”
く
Chad had a good job. Why would he start a
company?
Mark realized he’d said too much and
clammed up. The others went quiet, too.
Dinner was awful. Everyone was
uncomfortable.
When we finished eating, it started pouring.
Chad came over, all careful again.
“Lindsey, it’s not safe for Tiffany to go home
alone. Stay here with Mom, I’ll drop her off
and come back for you.”
I nodded.
Chad looked like he wanted to say something,
45
<
but he just squeezed my hand and walked
Tiffany out.
I watched them go, ordered a Lyft, and left without saying goodbye to Chad’s mom.
The rain was coming down in sheets. I must
have looked pathetic.
Chad came rushing back, pulled me into a
hug.
“I’m sorry, Lindsey. I didn’t mean to upset
you.”
“It’s just… Tiffany has her kid. I had to pick
her up from the ER. I felt like I owed her.”
“Why couldn’t you wait at Mom’s?”
<
He sounded almost annoyed.
“Were you the only one who could drive her?”
I asked it quietly, honestly.
“What?”
“Mark drove there too. Was it only you who
could drive Tiffany home?”
Chad’s face went from confused to
embarrassed. He bit his lip.
“I…”
I cut him off.
“You wanted to.”
<
