Chapter Two

SUSAN’S POV

We slept for almost an hour, then I woke up with him gone, a note on the counter: Had an impromptu meeting.” Call me later.

My heart sank just a little. Not because I expected any better, Mark was always that guy who could disappear on you at any time, but because the warmth and intimacy had evaporated, leaving me cold and thinking, again, about what I wanted versus what I had.

I waited by the phone for what felt like hours, my chest tight with anticipation, hoping that maybe, just maybe, Mark would call to reassure me, to explain away the tension I had been feeling all day. I didn’t want to call because I always did, I was hoping things would change someday, even though the wait felt impossible.

This was a routine I thought I’d get used to, but it ate me up every single time.

When his name finally flashed across the screen, I felt a flutter of hope.

“Hey… Sus,” he said, his voice lighter than I expected, almost teasing, as if nothing was wrong.

“Mark,” I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady. “Where have you been? You… you left in the morning, leaving just a note. You should have called after your meeting.”

There was a pause. Then, in the background, I heard a soft, sultry giggle. My stomach dropped.

“Uh… I’m… I’m sorry Sus, I got really busy” he said.

I heard the sultry giggle again, this time, a bit louder.

“Sus, I’m with someone right now, but I called to tell you that I’ll still be coming over tonight, I just need to wrap this up” he admitted, not flustered at all. “Listen, Sus, don’t freak out. It’s not what you think.” he continued.

I froze, my hand gripping the phone so tightly it hurt. “With… who?” I asked, trying to keep calm, trying not to panic.

“I’m… I’m with Jenna, nobody important” he said, his tone casual. “She’s… well, nobody, just fun and nothing else, you know what I mean?" I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier. I was going to come over after that.”

I felt my heart twist in a way I hadn’t felt before—sharp and hot. My fingers trembled. “She’s… you’re with her… and you called me? You’re going to come over?”

Mark chuckled softly. “Yeah. Look, I just wanted to be honest. You know I love you, Sus. I really do. But I… I like to have fun, too. And Jenna—she’s… well, she’s fun. It’s nothing serious, okay? Just for the moment, we’ve spoken about this.”

I couldn’t breathe. “We’ve spoken about that, Mark. So… you’re cheating on me?” I whispered, my voice breaking.

“No, no, don’t say that,” he said quickly. “I’m still with you. You’re the one I care about. I’m telling you because I care about you. I’m still with you. I love you. She knows she’s not my girlfriend. You’re my girlfriend.”

I felt tears burn behind my eyes. Betrayal, heartbreak, confusion—they all crashed over me at once. The man I loved was confessing he was sharing himself with another woman—intentionally, casually, all while still claiming love for me.

I knew this about him, but hearing him say it casually? Being on the phone with him while he's with another girl? It hit differently.

“Mark… I…” I tried again, but my voice trembled. “I can’t… I can’t do this.”

He sighed. “I know… I know it’s complicated. But you love me, right?”

I wanted to scream. “I do! I did! I love you!”

“I know,” he said, almost gently, almost soothingly, like a cruel lullaby. “And I love you too. That hasn’t changed. But love… sometimes… It’s not enough. You want stability. You want commitment. I… I want… everything. Love, yes—but fun too. Life’s too short to choose one. We’ve discussed this Sus, I thought we were on the same page”

I felt a tear escape down my cheek. Then another. My hands shook as I clutched the phone like it was a lifeline, though it was only the instrument of my heartbreak.

“Please don’t show up at my house today, I need some time,” I said and hung up almost immediately.

The phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor. I sat there for what felt like hours, shaking, sobbing, tears streaming down my face. Every happy memory, every soft touch, every laugh… tainted now. Betrayal burned hotter than love.