A Two-Seater Was Never Meant for Three Chapter 04

A Two-Seater Was Never Meant for Three Chapter 04

Chloe registered for her grad school exams, and Julian took time off to help her estimate scores and pick schools.

When I got home, they were sitting at the kitchen table, and my things had been shoved carelessly onto the floor.

I said nothing. I gathered up my books and went back to my room.

A friend request popped up on my phone.

“Hi, I’m Gavin.”

“Are you free this Saturday?”

The older teacher had mentioned her son had spent the last few years running a small business, a little hard to read but good at heart.

Hearing that familiar setup speech, I felt myself wanting to back out—but it seemed rude to go back on it now.

I’d just find some excuse to leave early once the date started.

After finishing grading, I went to refill my water bottle.

Only Julian was left in the living room.

He held up his phone, the notification lit on the screen, his face darkening.

“What is this supposed to mean?”

I glanced at it, flat. “We’re already broken up. Might as well dissolve the group chat.”

Julian let out a sudden, cold huff of laughter.

“So you did hear what I said that morning.”

“Fine, I’ll just say it plainly, then. You don’t have Chloe’s looks—this kind of move doesn’t suit you. It just makes me more disgusted.”

“Think it over. Breaking up means nothing to me either way. But with your prospects as they are, do you really think you’ll find better than me?”

The chill in his voice yanked me straight back seven years, to the Julian who’d once been a stranger to me.

Back then, in every crowd, in every patch of sunlight, I’d been the one craning my neck to watch him, eager to please.

I had been jealous of Chloe, secretly, more than once.

But I’d also worked twice as hard to be good to her out of guilt afterward.

When she failed her first application and needed somewhere to stay, I’d gritted my teeth and rented a two-bedroom place.

The day she moved in, I’d taken my new electric scooter to pick her up, and gotten caught in a sudden downpour.

Julian had called me the instant he heard.

“Wendy, what the hell did you do? How can you be so careless?”

“Chloe doesn’t know anyone in this town. If something happened to her, could you live with that?”

I’d taken a cab out that night to buy Chloe medicine, and ended up sick with a fever myself for days afterward.

Julian’s only comment had been flat and unbothered. “It’s fine. She’s tough, she’ll bounce back.”

Chloe, his female friend, made him frantic.

I, his own girlfriend, only warranted a few dismissive words.

Tough. She’ll bounce back.

So that was what he’d always thought of me.

The anxious knot in my chest finally settled—though I couldn’t say what exactly I felt in its place.

Julian was right. I’d never find anyone better than him in this life.

Being with him had always been more than I deserved.

But I just didn’t want to spend three more hours alone in an empty lodge, waiting for no one.

Julian gave me until Saturday to answer.

I’d never planned to answer him at all.

That Saturday, I did my makeup carefully and put on something new.

On my way out, I ran into him and Chloe.

The two of them looked like they were heading out too.

Chloe’s expression flickered, evasive, when she saw me.

Julian looked smugly certain of himself.

“Figured you’d been watching the group chat after all. Come with us, you can sit in the back.”

I was about to answer when my phone buzzed.

[I’m downstairs.]

I smiled at the two of them.

“No need. The teachers never liked me much back then anyway—I doubt they want to see me.”

“You two go ahead. Have fun.”

Julian’s eyes dropped to my bare legs and shoulders, gone cold.

“You’re not coming to the reunion? Then where exactly are you going, dressed like that?”

“That’s not really your business.”

A muscle twitched under Julian’s eye, his expression darkening.

Chloe asked, worried.

“Wendy, it’s getting late. Is someone coming with you? Stay safe.”

I opened my mouth to answer when there was a knock at the door.

My phone buzzed again at the same moment.

[The light in your hallway’s out. Didn’t want you walking up alone.]

[I’m right outside your door.]