I Let My Eighteen Year Old Self Cancel Our Engagement Chapter 02

I Let My Eighteen Year Old Self Cancel Our Engagement Chapter 02

The emphasis on “too” was subtle but sharp.

Owen finally moved when the words reached his ears.

As if trying to protect something, he hurried over and grabbed my hand. “No, Willow has always been understanding, right?”

Seeing eighteen-year-old Willow stay silent, he quickly lowered his voice. “Zoey just runs her mouth. She’s got that boyish personality. She didn’t mean it like that. Don’t take it personally.”

What did that mean?

Was he trying to say his girlfriend was petty and unreasonable?

Zoey blinked, then immediately set the coffee down on the table. “Willow, I’m sorry, okay? Don’t make things hard for Owen.”

I laughed quietly in my mind. Next, she’ll retreat a bit and say she’ll stay away from Owen in the future.

Sure enough, Zoey sniffled. “If Willow really minds, then I’ll just stay away from Owen from now on.”

“Zoey, don’t talk nonsense.” Owen’s brow furrowed, and the ache in his chest almost overflowed.

I lowered my eyes calmly.

Eighteen-year-old Willow was trembling with anger. “Don’t. If even you leave him, who’s left to give him freedom and excitement?”

“Willow, why do you have to talk like that?” Owen’s face darkened suddenly. “Zoey already came over to explain herself, what more do you want from her?”

I almost instinctively knew what he’d say next. He’ll tell you that you weren’t always so petty.

The next second, Owen pulled Zoey into a hug. “Are you just growing older without maturing? Why take things so seriously with a young girl? You’ve never been this petty before.”

Eighteen-year-old Willow nodded. “Yeah. Because I used to be blind.”

The room fell into a sudden silence. Zoey’s tears fell with soft little plops. “Willow, please don’t be like this. Fine, I won’t go to the lab group dinner tonight, okay?”

Owen immediately looked at her. “Why not go? No matter what, the person who should leave isn’t you! Willow, apologize!”

Zoey bit her lip and shook her head. “Owen, don’t let me mess with your relationship. This dinner was supposed to help you relax before your defense. I messed it up.”

Owen took a deep breath, his impatience barely contained. “Fine, Willow. You come with us. Happy now? You’re always convinced something’s going on between Zoey and me, right? Then come see for yourself. This is how it is with all my lab mates.”

He spoke with a certainty that brooked no argument.

As if bringing me into his circle would make me understand just how clueless I’d been.

“Fine.” Eighteen-year-old Willow tugged at the corner of her mouth and looked down at her phone.

The hotel coordinator sounded a little regretful: [Miss Willow, are you really sure you want to cancel?]

This five-star hotel was in high demand. People waited six months just to get on the waitlist.

But Owen had never once asked about how the planning was going.

Every day, he spent his time with Zoey.

Even when I bombarded him with messages, desperate for some kind of response, he’d just tell me to handle it myself.

He said men just didn’t get it.

Yet he’d turn around to accompany Zoey as she picked out lipsticks.

[I’m sure. I’m breaking up.]

I shut off the screen.

A flash of triumph appeared in Zoey’s eyes, soon masked by a look of surprise. “Great, Willow, everyone in our lab is really nice. Don’t be afraid. I’ll take good care of you.”

Ten years together, and Owen had never introduced me to any of his other friends.

I was curious what they really thought of me behind my back.