He Thought I’d Beg, Until I Cancelled Our Engagement Chapter 04

Ethan came out of the shower, toweling his hair.

I sat in the living room and asked him straight out, “Putting the wedding on hold means what, exactly?”

He stopped toweling his hair, glanced at the computer, and closed it as if nothing was wrong.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your message to Natalie. You said putting the wedding on hold was a good thing. What does it mean?”

“You went through my messages?” His brows drew together. “I was just trying to make Nat feel better. Do you have to take everything out of context?”

“I just want an answer.”

“The answer is I chose you. We’ll get married eventually. But being married doesn’t mean I can embarrass both our families or stop caring about Nat.”

He sounded so certain.

It sounded like an answer and a warning not to ask for more.

The night before Thanksgiving, both families went to the Whitmore for a tasting.

Ethan said we needed to finalize the food and settle the seating arrangements while we were there.

During dinner, his sister brought up the seats again.

“Claire, just put up with it tomorrow night. You’re family anyway. Standing or sitting, you’re still eating. What’s the difference?”

His mother chimed in. “You’re always so helpful, Claire. Make sure everything runs smoothly tomorrow. Be sensible and stop keeping score. Then everyone can enjoy themselves.”

I put down my fork, took out my phone, and opened the screenshot.

“Then let’s get this straight.”

The table went silent.

I looked at Ethan. “No more excuses. Choose. In front of both families.”

“Choose what?”

“At tomorrow’s Thanksgiving dinner, who gets the seat of honor at the main table? Me or Natalie?”

Natalie jumped to her feet, her eyes red. “Claire, don’t use me to corner Ethan. Fine. I just won’t come.”

Even as she offered to back off, she edged closer to him.

Ethan’s expression darkened.

“All fifteen seats are already assigned. If you insist on taking the seat of honor now, we’ll have to redo the whole chart.”

“I’m your fiancée. I’m also the one who booked the room.”

“And if you take that seat, where do our parents sit? Nat’s in a fragile place right now. She needs to feel like she matters.”

“So you’re choosing her again.”

Ethan closed his hand around my wrist. His grip wasn’t hard, but he wouldn’t let me pull away.

“Don’t make a scene in front of our families. If you want that seat so badly, next time we go out by ourselves, you can sit wherever you want.”

“I’m only asking once.”

He stared at me, the last of his patience gone.

“Fine. Nat gets the seat.”

Everyone at the table froze.

Ethan still didn’t let go.

“She’s been having a hard time. This dinner was supposed to cheer her up. You and I have the rest of our lives. You can give up one seat.”

I looked at the watch on his wrist.

I lived on instant mac and cheese and worked two jobs for more than six months to save up for it.

He said wearing it would always remind him of the hard times I went through with him.

Now that watch pressed against my pulse.

“What was the rest of that message?” I asked. “What does putting the wedding on hold mean?”

He was quiet for a moment, then finally sighed.

“It means Nat can relax and enjoy dinner. She’s been afraid I’ll pull away from her once we’re married.”

“So you already wanted to put the wedding on hold?”

“It’s just a few months. We’ll do it when she’s feeling better. It doesn’t change anything.”

“And deleting me from the seating chart was your idea?”

“Yes.”

“You wanted everyone to think all I’m good for is standing there waiting on you?”

He actually softened his voice.

“Claire, you’re always saying I don’t consider your feelings. Now I’m telling you exactly how I feel, and you can’t handle that, either.”

I nodded.

His expression eased. He thought I finally knew better.

I yanked my wrist free and stood.

“Since you chose her, I have an announcement of my own.”