Over the next few years, I asked him dozens
of times. He agreed seven times.
And bailed every time.
Each time followed by a taunting text from
Layla.
My phone buzzed again.
<
I almost hung up, thinking it was Layla, but it
was a friend.
Inviting me to a party.
Without thinking, I blurted out, “Is Ashton
going?”
“Don’t worry, El, I know about you and
Ashton. I already told him you’d be there, and
he said he’d come!”
“Then I’m not going. Maybe next time.”
The cheerful chatter on the other end
stopped.
Everyone know I’d heen chasing Ashton for
<
Everyone knew I’d been chasing Ashton for
years.
Chasing him at graduation with flowers,
finding him the perfect job, cleaning his apartment, doing his laundry.
Once, at a friend’s birthday party, someone told him he was lucky to have me.
Ashton scoffed.
“She’s like a lost puppy. Annoying.”
I used to not care. I thought he’d change.
Now, I cared.
<
I hung up and sent a group text to my friends.
From now on, if Ashton’s at a party, don’t
invite me.
Then, I packed a suitcase with all of Ashton’s
things.
I called a courier to deliver it to him.
My best friend, Chloe, arrived just as the
courier picked up the suitcase.
She stared at it, wide–eyed.
“El, you’re not leaving, are you?”
<
I laughed, showing her the contents.
“No, it’s all Ashton’s stuff. I’m sending it
back.”
Chloe was stunned.
“But you were just talking about getting
married today….”
Her voice trailed off.
She knew about Ashton’s history of bailing.
“He stood you up again, didn’t he? That’s why you sent that text! It’s Layla, isn’t it? Come on, let’s go give her a piece of my mind!”
3
<
Despite my protests, Chloe dragged me to
the party.
We could hear Ashton’s voice from outside the room.
“Come on, guys, you know El. She talks big, but she can’t live without me.‘
“She’s just mad. Once she cools down, she’ll be back.”
I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood.
After all these years, after everything I’d done
Join
く
for him, this was how he saw me?
Chloe squeezed my hand, eyes blazing.
She reached for the door, but I stopped her.
I couldn’t face him.
We turned to leave.
As we rounded the corner, Ashton and Layla stepped out of the room.
“Ashton, you’re drunk. Don’t say that. El will
be heartbroken if she hears you.”
“Isn’t that what you want? You’re the one
