Todos os capítulos de After My Boyfriend Rejected My 99th Dinner Invitation, I Left: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 7

When I got home, Nathan was stripping the sheets off the bed in the master bedroom.Vivian stood in the doorway hugging a pillow, two suitcases at her feet."There's a leak at her place. She's staying here for a few days."Nathan made the bed with the pale green sheets Vivian liked."The master bedroom gets the best light, so she'll take it. You sleep in the study. I'll take the couch."The study was piled with junk, and once the folding bed was open, there was barely room to stand.Vivian said quickly, "Why don't I take the study?""Your back's bad. You can't sleep on a folding bed," Nathan said. Then he adjusted the AC for her and took a thin blanket out of the closet.My mom had knitted that blanket for me herself.I reached over and took it back. "She can't have this."Nathan frowned. "It's just a blanket. She'll give it back in a few days."I held back my anger. "It's mine. You both should have asked me before taking it."Vivian apologized quietly, but Nathan's face darkened."She

On Friday, my store manager, Diane Brooks, slid the transfer form for the new Northbrook store across the counter to me again.The position came with a 30 percent raise and a housing stipend for the first year.Last time, I'd turned it down because of Nathan.Northbrook was only a 40-minute drive away.But he'd said, "We hardly see each other as it is. If you transfer there, what's even the point of dating?"This time, I took the form."I'll give you an answer by Monday."That afternoon, during inventory, the acrylic panel on the top shelf of a display case came loose.I reached up to catch it, and it sliced my wrist open. Blood quickly soaked through the gauze I pressed against the cut.A coworker took me to the hospital and called Nathan, my emergency contact, on the way.He didn't answer. A long while later, he finally called back. "What's so important that you keep calling?""I hurt my hand. I need stitches. My coworker was worried I wouldn't have anyone with me after she left, so

Nathan got home at one in the morning.I was packing the last suitcase.He looked around the half-empty study, and his expression changed."You're serious? I thought you only said that because you were angry at your mom's."I zipped up a storage bag."I wouldn't tell you we were breaking up just because I was angry.""Vivian has somewhere to stay now. She moved out tonight. I'll be more careful about boundaries from now on." His voice took on a hint of urgency. "We've been together for two years. We can't break up over a few dinners."I looked at him, stunned by how absurd that was. "You still think it was just a few dinners.""Then tell me what it was." Nathan's expression stiffened for a second."It was you helping her look for her wallet while I was hurt. It was you shopping for furniture with her on our anniversary. It was you telling my mother to her face on her 60th birthday that I would understand, then leaving with Vivian. Then there was the mug, the bed, the blanket, the AC, t

My mom fell on her way downstairs to buy groceries.The hospital called Nathan because her old medical records still listed him as her contact.By the time I rushed back from Northbrook, he'd already checked her in.When he saw me, he stood up right away."I already arranged for a private-duty aide. You don't have to quit your job in Northbrook."I took the bill from him."How much was it? I'll pay you back.""You don't have to.""Yes, I do."I took the cash out of my wallet and handed it to him.This time, he didn't refuse.On the third day of her hospital stay, Vivian showed up, but Nathan stopped her at the door."You don't need to visit Evelyn. And don't contact Leah."People passing by turned to look. Vivian clenched her fists. "You really have to do this to me in front of everyone?""I'm just making our boundaries clear." Nathan glanced at me, then spoke more firmly to Vivian.Vivian scoffed. "You used to love having me depend on you. Now you're hurting me to prove you love her."