Forget Him, Leave Him

Chapter 2

My parents were already waiting at the restaurant.

A brand-new wedding calendar sat at the corner of the table, with several possible wedding dates circled.

Yes, we were supposed to choose our wedding date that day.

Ethan walked in with dark circles under his eyes.

He handed over the gifts and greeted my parents, polite and attentive in every detail.

But I looked out the window.

Tessa was sitting in the car.

She had reclined the seat, propped her bare feet out the window, and was scrolling through her phone as if she didn't have a care in the world.

As usual, Ethan had already gone back on his promise to stop taking care of her.

At the table, my father poured Ethan a glass of wine.

"You've been together for 5 years. Maya will be 28 after New Year's. Certain things should be settled by now."

Ethan held the glass and looked at me.

For one brief moment, I almost thought he would pull out a ring.

2 weeks earlier, we had gone shopping for diamond rings.

While I was trying them on, he had stood behind me, taken my hand, and gently spread my fingers one by one.

"They all look beautiful. I want to buy every one of them for you."

He had lifted my hand to his lips.

"I wish I could put one on you right now and never let you take it off for the rest of your life."

The salesperson later told me that Ethan had personally picked up the ring I liked most within 2 days.

But now, his suit pockets were perfectly flat.

There was nothing in them.

He avoided the subject of the wedding date and raised his glass instead.

"Mr. and Mrs. Collins, I'm sorry I didn't visit you earlier. Let me make it up to you with a toast."

The smile faded from my mother's face.

"Ethan, I don't like people talking in circles. You know what we're asking."

His thumb pressed against the rim of his glass.

"I've had some things to deal with lately. For now, I don't want to..."

Those words went straight to the truth I least wanted to face.

'I know what he's been busy with—Tessa. For her, he can keep putting off every promise he's made to me. Now even our wedding date can wait.'

My mother said nothing more. She slowly turned the wedding calendar face down.

Just then, Ethan's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and declined the call.

Less than 10 seconds later, it rang again.

He frowned and hung up again.

When it rang a third time, my father picked up his glass.

"Answer it. Don't keep someone waiting."

Ethan still didn't pick up.

The next second, the door to the private dining room flew open.

Tessa rushed in doubled over, sweat beading across her forehead.

"Ethan, the left side is cramping again. It hurts so much I can barely breathe."

Only then did she seem to notice everyone at the table. She raised a hand weakly.

"Mr. and Mrs. Collins, I'm Tessa. Ethan's best friend. Sorry. I just need to borrow him for a few minutes."

Ethan was already on his feet, supporting her.

My mother's face darkened.

"Where's your family?"

Tessa bit her lip, still trying to sound tough.

"My parents aren't in town. I'm on my own here... Ethan's the only one I can ask for help."

As she spoke, she grabbed Ethan's wrist with practiced ease.

"Feel it. Is it more swollen than yesterday?"

My father abruptly turned his face away.

My mother's fork clattered onto the table.

Ethan froze for a split second too. Then he yanked his hand away.

"Don't press on it. We're going to the hospital."

My chest tightened until my fingertips went numb.

"Where... where is the lump?"

Ethan turned his head away, unable to look at me.

"It's... in her breast."

My ears rang, and my vision kept blurring. For a long moment, I couldn't speak.

The whole exchange was far too practiced.

She hadn't even needed to tell him where to touch.

'Clearly, this isn't the first time.'

5 days ago, Ethan had only told me she had found a lump that could get worse, that she was in a bad place emotionally, and that she needed someone with her.

I had even secretly felt guilty for bringing up a breakup at a time like that.

But during those 5 days, they had gone camping, played squash, and attended a concert together.

Ethan had helped her check off every single thing she wanted to do.

I didn't even want to think about how many times he had checked the lump for her during those 5 days, or how many times she had taken his hand the way she just had.

When I finally spoke, my throat was painfully dry.

"Have you been checking it for her like that this whole time?"