To My Future Cheating Husband

II. None of us work

A V A

Walking away from Luke was a lot easier than the first time. Or maybe it's because this isn't the first time I turned my back on him.

Why shouldn't I?

He did it first.

And as cliché as it sounds, people are right. Time does heal you.

When I step out of the cafe, it feels easier to breathe. There was a sense of delight in me, and with each step I take, the euphoria only heightens.

But I should've known that was the calm before the storm.

Two weeks into summer break, I found myself staring at the screen with two tabs open. One, with the training videos for my new job, and the second are different apartments for rent.

The day wasn't any different from the other days, except I had to keep an eye on the clock for when Ben and Winnie returned. They asked me to pick them up from the airport since Ben's parents are working and his grandparents are too old to drive.

I'm surprised they're still alive.

When my phone buzzes, I pause the training video, then grab my stuff and out the door I go.

The day-to-day basis is tiring and repetitive, but delightful. I open the door to see someone who made my delightful days undelightful. "Hm. Hi."

Luke smiles, "Hey." His eyes drop to my purse, "Heading out?"

"No. I saw you by the window, so I decided to greet you before you have a chance to greet me."

He chuckles, "Still as sarcastic as ever, I see."

I stepped forward, and he made space for me. The door behind me closes, "You're here, uninvited, for a reason. So, let's not beat around the bush. What's your reason?"

He folds his arms and leans against the railing. "I thought about the conversation we had the other day."

"Hm."

"And I'm not comfortable with the way it ended."

"That makes one of us."

"And I understand why," he says. Luke exhales softly before he sits on my front porch without my permission. He gestures his head to the empty seat beside me.

I settled beside him and waited for him to somehow find closure between us.

"Um- I was horrible."

Oh, this conversation isn't too bad so far.

"To start...I...I shouldn't have left you at the aisle."

Hold a fucking second.

"I was scared, because-"

"Wait. Wait. Wait!" I interrupt him.

"Ava, I know you don't-"

"Stop talking!" I scream. My lips tremble for a brief moment before I said: "You never left me at the aisle."

"Ava, I understand it's-"

"I'm not traumatized-" as much, "I'm not delusional. You. Never. Left. Me. At. The. Aisle."

Luke stares at me.

I stare at him in return.

He chuckles awkwardly, "I'm not sure I understand what-" His eyes narrow as if his brain broke at my statement.

When I realized we were not going to be on the same page, I said, "I hate to say this, but I'm going to have to call Seth." Because I can't stand being in the same room as him.