As I walk toward the front door, I look down at my robe and touch my still-wet hair.
“Dammit, why is my hair always wet when he comes over!” I shove my nerves away and put on a huge smile, flinging my door open and finding not Alex, but Tim standing on the other side.
“Oh my god, what are you doing here?”
“Hi beautiful.” He smiles, his hands outstretched toward me. I step forward and he puts his arms around me. I don’t hug him back, keeping one hand on the door, the other down at my side.
“What are you doing here, Tim?”
“I want to come home.”
“Home? As in here?” I’m so confused.
“Can I come inside?”
“No,” I respond instinctively.
“Okay, I understand. I want to end the break, Sadie. I miss you; I miss us.” He grabs my hand. “I realized I made a huge mistake.”
“When?” He looks perplexed. “When did you realize you made a mistake? Because I sent you a text on Christmas Eve and you couldn’t even be bothered to respond.”
“I know. I was busy and emotional, and I’m so sorry baby. You have to believe me. I’ve been so torn up, depressed, drinking too much because I’ve missed you so much.”
“So what?” I pull my hand back. “You thought you’d just show up here and tell me you’re ready to come home, and I’d welcome you with open arms?”
“Well, yeah, I guess.” I feel my mouth fall open at his audacity. “Baby, baby, listen. I thought that even though you didn’t want the break, we agreed that this was what we needed to fig—”
“No,” I say emphatically. “Youdecided that this was whatyouneeded to figure out if I was whatyouwanted. There was nowein all of this. My feelings and what I wanted weren’t even considered. I cried and begged you to stay, and you left me right before Christmas.” My voice begins to shake and a tear tumbles down my cheek.
“I know, I was wrong and I’m so sorry. I want to spend my life with you. I want to have five babies and raise our family in a giant house in the suburbs with a tire swing in the front yard, and a dog and two cats.”
The tears really start to fall now. My chest burns as I choke back a sob. He steps closer, cupping my cheek.
“Remember when we used to drive around the suburbs and point out which houses we loved? We’d talk about how we could see our kids in the front yard. We’d find a local bakery and you’d say this is where you’d get coffee and pastries on the weekend. And then we’d walk through the town and—”
“Stop! Stop it!” I yell, pushing his hand away from my face. “How could you do this to me? You leave me after three years, then you show up here after I haven’t heard from you in weeks, and you finally tell me all the things I’ve wanted to hear for so long?” Tears blur my vision.
“I know, but I’m here now. Please Sadie, please just give us another chance.”
“What changed? What’s going to change? Are you going to be interested in spending time with my family? Will you actually watch a movie with me that I want to watch? Will you make an effort to get to know my friends instead of just talking shit about them?”
He stares at me, his mouth hanging open as he attempts to come up with an answer. “It’s not—it’s about us, not everyone else.”
I shake my head. “Just go.”
“Sadie, I’m begging you.”
“It’s too late, Tim, just go!”
He doesn’t say anything else. With a shake of his head, he punches the wall next to my door, making me jump, and storms away.
I’m still standing there in shock when I see movement out of the corner of my eye. I look up just as Alex rounds the corner with flowers in his hands. His face tells me he already knows that was Tim. I don’t know how much he heard, but he can see I’m upset, and my red, tear-stained face confirms it.
“If you’re going to sayI told you soor lecture me, don’t bother.”
“Hey, hey.” He steps forward, pulling me into his arms and rubbing my back. “I’m here to be your friend, Sadie.”
I don’t hold back, releasing all the pent-up hurt and anger as I sob in Alex’s arms, finally feeling safe enough to let it all go.