My Boyfriend Carved Jack-o’-Lanterns For All Five. Except Me Chapter 03

My Boyfriend Carved Jack-o’-Lanterns For All Five. Except Me Chapter 03

Graduation dinner. Daisy suggested exchanging letters.

She pulled a stack of pretty envelopes from her bag.

“After graduation, everyone’s busy. We might not see each other every day.”

“So I had you all write letters in secret. Let’s open them tonight.”

Leo tapped her head. Smiling.

“Always so dramatic.”

But he was the first to pull out his letters.

Julian and Caleb each took out three envelopes.

So they’d planned it. All of them.

Only I didn’t know.

—

The letters were distributed. Three in front of everyone.

Daisy opened hers. Her eyes reddened.

Leo told her not to stay up late.

Julian promised to answer her calls, no matter how late.

Caleb said he hoped she’d always be happy. Never insecure again.

I sat beside them. My space was empty.

No one wrote to me.

And I hadn’t prepared any letters either.

Daisy finally noticed. Quiet.

“Didn’t Julian tell you?”

Julian paused.

“I thought Caleb would.”

Caleb frowned.

“Wasn’t Leo supposed to make the group?”

Leo scrolled through his phone. Then he realized.

When they prepared the letters, they’d made a separate four-person group.

He looked uncomfortable.

“It was just a quick thing.”

“You and Caleb are together. His letter to us is the same as yours.”

Caleb folded his letter to Daisy.

“We have time. I’ll write you one when we’re back.”

I smiled.

“No need.”

Something added only after being reminded was the same as forgetting.

—

Halfway through dinner, the waiter brought a dessert platter.

Daisy said, happily.

“After we move into the apartment, we can still have dinner together all the time.”

I looked up.

“What apartment?”

The table went quiet.

Daisy looked around.

“Leo didn’t tell you?”

“The four of us already rented apartments. Same building.”

Caleb and Daisy, on the same floor.

They’d talked for half a month. Seen the place three times. Planned whose apartment they’d eat at.

No one asked where I’d live after graduation.

Leo saw my face. Sighed.

“Aren’t you living with Caleb?”

I turned to Caleb.

He avoided my eyes.

After a few seconds.

“Daisy just started her job. She’s scared to live alone.”

“So I’ll move in with her first. Look after her.”

I gripped my cup.

“What about the apartment we picked?”

“Cancel it.”

He said it like it was nothing.

“If you want, you can renew it yourself. Once Daisy adjusts, I’ll move over.”

“How long?”

“Who knows?”

Caleb’s tone hardened. Like I was being unreasonable.

“She’s starting her first real job. Can’t you be understanding?”

I looked at the four of them.

Leo drank water. Silent agreement.

Julian pushed up his glasses. Told me not to ruin the dinner.

Daisy bit her lip. About to cry.

Everyone thought she needed company.

They forgot I was also going to a new company. In a new city. Alone.

But since childhood, they’d decided I didn’t need anyone.

I stood.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

No one stopped me.

They went back to discussing what dishes to buy for the new apartment.

—

At the end of the hall, I called the agent.

“The apartment. Please cancel it.”

He warned me the deposit might not be refundable.

I said it was fine.

After hanging up, I opened the New York contract. Signed the last page.

Three years of love. Twenty years of family.

Turns out letting go only needs two signatures.

—

Back at the table. They were toasting. Four of them, living together.

I raised my cup. Clinked it lightly.

My phone buzzed under the table.

[Contract effective. Report at 9 AM the day after tomorrow.]

Caleb’s phone buzzed too.

He read the lease cancellation notice. His face darkened.

“Lyra. You cancelled the apartment?”

“Mm.”

“You weren’t going to live there anyway.”

He stared at me. Then laughed. Cold.

“Fine. Let’s see who ends up caving first.”

He didn’t know.

We’d already ended.