Let You Go to Set Me Free

That small hiccup blew over fast, and the party rolled right back into high spirits. I laughed and carried on right along with everyone else, honestly happy for tonight's two guests of honor: my best friend, Preston Knight, and his girlfriend.The reason our friends had started teasing us was that partway through the party, Preston had gotten down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend. Of everyone in that room, Rosalie and I were now the only pair without a wedding in sight.During a round of games, Preston switched seats to sit beside me and gave my shoulder a pat. I gave him a reassuring smile back.Our whole group of friends had watched Rosalie and me become a couple before anyone else, years ago. Everyone had assumed we'd be the first down the aisle too. Six years later, somehow, we were still just boyfriend and girlfriend.By the time the party wound down, our friends peeled off one by one until only Rosalie, Preston, and I were left. Preston pulled me into a hug and murm

Preston and I had known each other for over ten years. Even though I never said anything out loud, he could always read the conflict written all over me. I smiled and nodded at him, though he was already pretty drunk.Just then, a few messages came in from Rosalie.Rosalie: [Feel better yet? When are you coming home?]Rosalie: [I'll take you to Diablo's Table when you're back, okay?]Rosalie: [You're a grown man. Running off and disappearing like this the second you're upset, is that really how an adult handles things?]For the first time, I didn't reply.…Preston's girlfriend, Hazel Spencer, got back from her business trip, and with her home again, it didn't feel right for me to keep staying at their place, so I planned to leave. But Hazel understood the situation without needing much explanation, and offered to stay at her parents' place for a while instead so I could keep the apartment to myself. Preston, touched, pulled her into a long, clingy hug.I felt awkward watch

After she said that, she looked down at me expectantly, waiting for me to put on a show, get teary-eyed, act a little hurt and resentful, then forgive her. That was how it always went whenever we fought: a slap, followed by a piece of candy to make up for it.This time, though, I just smiled at her. "There's no need."She froze for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. "Suit yourself." She stormed off and slammed the door again.I slept great that night.The next morning, I walked into the kitchen and found Rosalie sitting at the table, with a full spread of breakfast laid out in front of her. That was unusual; she was normally long gone to work by this hour. Figuring I was the one who usually made her breakfast anyway, and there was no harm in eating hers for once, I sat down across from her.Seeing me sit, her face relaxed a little. "I've thought it over. I'll transfer Tyler to a different position and keep my distance from him going forward."I was careless before, and I di

Right before I left the country, Preston and Hazel held their wedding. Barely three months had passed since Preston proposed, which normally would have made for a tight timeline to plan a wedding. But it turned out Preston had already handled most of the preparations before he even popped the question.Hazel asked him, laughing, "And if I'd said no, what exactly was your plan?""I would have just kept waiting," Preston said sheepishly. "I'd have waited for you forever."Hazel, who was usually the playful, teasing one, actually teared up at that.Watching the two of them exchange vows up on the stage, I thought back on how they'd fallen for each other, and then, inevitably, on every step of the road Rosalie and I had walked together. At least one of my friends still got to be happy. That was something.Then came the moment for the bouquet toss. Whether it was coincidence or just bad luck, the bouquet landed straight in Rosalie's hands."Reese."Rosalie stood there in a red go