The Call That Undid Us

Her words hit like a gut punch."If you're so into Ray, just sign the papers. Be with him for real.""Liam Lambert! When did I ever say I liked him?" she snapped, yanking the papers from my hand. "And where do you think you're even going? You're thirty, haven't worked in seven years, totally out of touch. Who's gonna hire you now? How are you gonna survive?"Cold. Brutal.Seven years ago, Nina and I were both prepping for interviews at one of the top companies in Avendale.The day before, I got into a car crash while out grabbing fruit—for her. Shattered my leg. Three months in bed.She went solo. Nailed it.When the offer came, she hugged me tight, whispering, "Liam, you got hurt because of me. My job's just starting, and Sasha's still little. Stay home with her. I'll take care of us."Thinking about it made my chest twist. I wanted to snap back, say something—anything—but the words just died in my throat.Nina ripped the divorce papers to shreds. That's when her anger finall

My chest tightened. Something was off—I could feel it. I took off running for the bar.Nina's voice looped in my head: "Then tell me—how exactly do I hurt him in the future?"Right before I got there, I clenched my jaw, unlocked my phone, and called 18-year-old Nina.'Nina, you better listen up. Thirty-year-old you wrecked everything.'The second I stepped inside, I saw her. Nina was straight-up brawling with another woman.Total chaos—chairs flipped, tables sideways, glass everywhere.I was about to jump in when Nina's secretary, Poppy, grabbed my arm."Mr. Lambert, please—don't. You could get hurt."I frowned. "This isn't like her. What happened?"She looked down, sighing. "Some women were all over Ray. Ms. Reid snapped and started swinging—"Poppy froze, shot me a glance, then scrambled, "I-I mean, I was just rambling. Don't take it the wrong way."I didn't answer. My eyes were already locked on Nina.And then my stomach dropped.Sasha—my six-year-old—had somehow wander

Nina used to say she liked stacking big days—like our anniversary and my birthday.But on my eighteenth? Her confession never came.After graduation, we drifted. I ended up confessing first.She turned me down. Hard.Then picked a college in a totally different city.Didn't matter how much I begged for a reason—she never gave one.Back then, I didn't get it. But that cold switch-up haunted me for years.Even in college, with girls constantly hitting on me, I never said yes to anyone.After that, I buried myself in grad school.Climbed my way up—until I landed a lecturer job at my old university.Two sets of memories twisted in my head, fighting for space—Until a warm hand on my shoulder snapped me out of it.I turned. A soft voice asked, "Dr. Lambert, are you okay? Is it low blood sugar?"She pulled a candy from her pocket and handed it over.That title—Doctor—hit me like a jolt.It was real. Everything had changed."Dr. Lambert, are you sure? Want me to walk you to th

Out of nowhere, Julia dropped a familiar name. "You remember Nina Reid? From that last lecture?"The other girl lit up. "Yeah, what about her?""Her assistant, Mr. Chapman? He confessed—and she shut him down."The girl's jaw dropped. "Wait, I thought they were already a thing."Julia grinned. "Nope. They just flirt so much, everyone assumed."The girl dragged out an "ohhh." "But why'd she turn him down? I heard she's super nice to him. Bet she likes him too."Julia gave a sly smile. "No clue. But get this—someone said during a meeting, she totally spaced out. Then outta nowhere, she starts telling people she's married... and has a daughter yay tall." She held up her hand."Now people think she's cracked from the stress."I raised a brow. "Seriously? That bad? Is that even true?"Julia nodded fast. "Swear. My friend's an intern there. She saw—"She froze, eyes darting behind me. "Hi, Ms. Reid."I turned. Nina had appeared out of nowhere, giving me a small nod."Dr. Lambert,

My tone was sharp—no room left for her to linger. Nina pressed her lips together, eyes full of hesitation."Liam... do you really want me to leave that badly?"I didn't answer.She looked at me for a beat, then suddenly grabbed my hand."Liam, won't you give me another chance? I swear, I'll get it right this time!" She raised her hand like she was making a vow.My thoughts drifted.This version of her—kind, gentle—it didn't feel real. It'd been forever since she acted like this.As I looked at her, her face blurred into the eighteen-year-old Nina I used to know... then morphed into the cold woman who once pushed me away for Ray.Memories tangled. I stared, dazed. "Who even are you?"She blinked, then smiled soft. "I'm Nina."Yeah. She was. Eighteen or thirty—it was all still her.She placed my hand over her heart, eyes full of everything she was trying to say."So... will you give me another chance?"Her gaze was steady, sincere. I looked right back and said quietly, "I'm