No matter what conditions he set, I agreed calmly. His expression shifted, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “Penny, what’s wrong with you? You’re not acting like yourself.”
Not acting like myself? I almost laughed. That was probably because he didn’t know me anymore.
There was a time when I would’ve trusted him without question. He used to tell me that his relationship with Becky was purely platonic, just a friendship that had lasted for years, and I believed him. He promised he would marry me and that I could always be myself around him. I believed that too.
And what did I get for believing in him? Night after night, he didn’t come home, crossing boundaries with Becky as if they didn’t exist. He refused to meet my parents, using the excuse of a stripped-down wedding to pressure me. He made fun of my taste, mocked the town I came from.
Whoever I’d fallen in love with—whatever I’d once cherished in him—had vanished long ago. Now there was nothing left but an empty shell.
I was about to respond when Becky spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension. “Don’t worry, Derick. She’s probably just got cold feet. This is when you’re supposed to comfort her. You don’t want her to change mind, would you? What if she backed out—wouldn’t that drive you nuts?”
“Back out? She’s almost thirty. Who else would want to marry a leftover woman like her if not me? ” Derick’s expression hardened, and his tone dripped with disdain.
Becky feigned surprise, playfully slapping his arm. “Hey! I’m almost thirty too. Do you call me leftover?”
Derick’s face softened instantly, trying to backtrack. “Of course not. You’re different. Guys are lining up for you. But Penny? She’s not exactly in demand. She should be grateful to have me. While you, you get to pick and choose. But if you don’t take any them there’s still…”
He trailed off, leaving the suggestion hanging in the air. I tightened my grip on my purse, the familiar sensation of heartbreak barely stinging this time. For once, my heart didn’t ache. I had finally learned to let go, to detach myself from the pain.
“You’re right. I should thank you for your generosity.” My smile felt distant, as if it were someone else’s wedding we were talking about, not mine.