He Said I Was Slow to Commit While He Was Slow to Tell Me About Her Chapter 06

He Said I Was Slow to Commit While He Was Slow to Tell Me About Her Chapter 06

Garrett came in carrying the cold of the night with him.

When he saw the boxes in the living room and my suitcase by the door, he stopped.

“Avery?”

His voice tightened.

“What are you doing?”

I pulled my jacket zipper to my chin and gripped the suitcase handle.

“Garrett, I’m not coming back.”

He stared at me as if the sentence had not registered.

“What?”

I did not repeat myself.

I pulled the suitcase toward the door.

He moved quickly and blocked my way, one hand braced against the frame.

“What is this? Stella comes back, and suddenly you’re leaving?”

“Yes.”

I answered honestly.

His throat moved.

“Avery, about the wedding… can we wait a little longer?”

“No.”

I was about to say more when his mother called.

Out of habit and respect, I answered.

“Avery, sweetheart, is Garrett home yet?”

Her voice was bright with excitement.

“The planner confirmed it. The venue can hold the eighteenth for us, and both families are free. We told Garrett at dinner. Nothing is getting in the way this time.”

“Mrs. Hollis, I…”

Before I could finish, Garrett took the phone from my hand.

“Mom.”

He listened with the patient exasperation of a son who had heard the same topic too many times then glanced at me.

“Yeah. I heard you. Good night.”

He ended the call and handed the phone back.

“Avery.”

His voice softened.

“You’ve always needed time with big decisions, so I thought you were just saying what the parents

wanted to hear.”

“This is between us. We’ll figure it out ourselves. Next month is too soon.”

“Garrett.”

“Hm?”

I wanted to say the groom was not him.

I wanted to say I was using the date his mother had chosen.

I wanted to say every version of “let’s wait a little longer” had already used up the last chance I was

willing to give him.

But by the time the words reached my mouth, I no longer wanted to explain.

Let him think I was angry.

Let him think I would calm down.

Let him think the date still belonged to him.

“We’re done.”