Chapter 4

I stepped out of the bedroom.

Before I could move aside, Zeke came rushing toward me and slammed into my shoulder. I hit the wall hard, pain shooting through my back.

He didn't even look at me. He ran straight into the master bedroom and started rifling through the drawers and closet.

Bracing one hand against the wall, I slowly pushed myself upright.

"Zeke, what are you looking for?"

Without slowing down, he said, "Hailey's at the hospital getting fluids. I'm going to stay with her. It's freezing in there, so I need to bring her a blanket. Where do we keep the extras?"

I ignored his question. "Didn't you say you were coming home early to spend time with me?"

Zeke found a blanket, then rushed past me and started looking for something else. His voice sharpened with impatience.

"Did being pregnant mess with your hearing, too? I just told you Hailey's at the hospital getting fluids. I don't have time today. We'll spend time together some other day."

But there wasn't going to be another day for us.

The hurt and anger I had been holding back finally broke free.

"What if I need you today? Hailey's sick, but she has parents. She has friends. What exactly are you to her, Zeke? Why are you leaving your pregnant fiancée behind to go sit by her bedside?"

My outburst finally made Zeke stop. He looked at me like I was being completely unreasonable.

"Hailey and I grew up together. She's practically family. What's so wrong with taking care of a friend? Can you please calm down? Stop letting your pregnancy make you paranoid."

With that, Zeke shoved everything he had gathered into an overnight bag and headed for the door.

I stepped in front of him before I could stop myself.

"Don't go. Just stay and talk to me for a few minutes, okay? Please."

Zeke looked at my red, swollen eyes.

He hesitated for a moment, but there was no concern in his expression. He only looked annoyed that I was delaying him.

He moved around me, kicking my two suitcases aside when they blocked his path, then waved me off impatiently.

"I don't know what's gotten into you. Fine. I'll be back early."

He walked out and slammed the door behind him. The apartment fell silent, broken only by the sound of my crying.

I sat on the couch and waited for Zeke to come home.

An hour passed. I sent him a message.

[Are you coming home?]

He read it but didn't reply.

Two hours later, I sent another message.

[I really have something important to tell you.]

He read that one, too, but still didn't respond.

After three hours, I tried one last time.

[This is the last time I'm asking. Are you coming home?]

The message didn't go through.

Zeke got so tired of hearing from me that he blocked me.

I stared at the single gray check beside the message and felt like a complete fool. By then, I had no tears left.

After four hours of waiting, I sent Zeke one final text.

[Zeke, we're done.]

The message was left with a single gray check the moment I sent it.

But I didn't care anymore. I grabbed my suitcases and left.

Five hours after Zeke walked out, I was having my boarding pass scanned at the gate when he sent me a message from another account.

I blocked him without replying, then posted an update.

[Zeke and I have broken up. This is official.]

I switched my phone to airplane mode, leaned back in my seat, and closed my eyes. As the plane lifted into the night sky, I slowly drifted off to sleep.

By sunrise, I would be somewhere new, ready to start over.