It was a grand engagement party, with guests mingling and offering their congratulations. Rena was all dressed up in a white gown, looking shy and blushing, while the guy knelt on one knee, holding out a rose. Quite the grand gesture.
I just stood there, staring at the two of them up on that stage until Rena’s little brother, Evan, ran over and tugged my hand. “Hey, why is my sister getting engaged to someone else?”
Before I could answer, Rena’s best friend, Sammy, hurried over, grabbed Evan, and awkwardly tried to brush it off. “Hey, kiddo, you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t say that.” Around us, people started to notice me, and the room’s vibe went tense.
Ignoring the stares, I walked toward Rena, and the guy in the suit anxiously held her hand. Rena’s expression didn’t change–no embarrassment, not even surprise. She just raised an eyebrow and held his hand a little tighter, saying indifferently, “I’m just making Grant’s wish come true. Don’t worry, I’ll still marry you.”
Seven years together, and she’d never accepted my proposal. Everyone knew she had a thing for freedom and hated the idea of being “tied down” by marriage.
I didn’t respond. Instead, I just smiled and slipped a beaded charm bracelet off her wrist. I’d given it to her as a token when we first got together, something I’d picked up from Red Oaks Chapel for protection, and I’d told her to keep it on always, as our little promise to each other. And she did. But her heart wasn’t with me.
I looked at the bracelet, turning it over in my hands, then said, “It was a gift from me, so I can take it back.” My voice was steady and calm. Rena looked stunned for a second, then laughed, “Tyler, you’re going this far just to get me to settle down? I thought you said I had to wear this.”
I could tell she didn’t believe I’d actually do it, but I snapped the bracelet in half, and the beads spilled onto the floor. “Don’t look for me again.”
Her face changed, and she blurted out, “Tyler, are you out of your mind?”
Her little brother ran over, taking my hand again. “Did you fight with my sister?” Sammy, sensing something was wrong, rushed over, trying to calm things down. “Tyler, don’t be mad. Rena’s just playing around; she didn’t mean it.”
I looked down at Evan, his eyes already getting red. “Little Ev, I’m not your brother–in–law anymore. Next time you see me, just call me ‘Tyler.” I gently pulled my hand away and walked out without looking back.
I watched as my girlfriend–my now ex–threw this huge engagement party for someone else, but I didn’t lose it. I didn’t scream or cry. I only heard Evan’s quiet voice, crying as he pleaded for his sister to come after me. “I want my brother–in–law.” But Rena didn’t budge, just coolly saying, “What does a kid know? He’ll come back in a few days.”
Sammy shook her head. “Rena, are you serious? You’d rather throw an engagement for a stranger than say yes to Tyler. You better fix this before it’s too late, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Grant, still in his tux, leaned in and tugged her arm gently, saying, “It’s okay, Rena. I have one just like his.”
