He Brought Me a College Guy, Saying I’d Never Touch Him—But I Kept Him Chapter 05

He Brought Me a College Guy, Saying I’d Never Touch Him—But I Kept Him Chapter 05

She looked so wronged, like a delicate flower getting battered by the wind.

Nathaniel softened immediately. “Don’t cry. I’m just messing with you.”

Cassidy was smarter than the others. She never sent passive aggressive essays.

Never called me to stake her claim with a “He’s with me right now.”

She just acted sweet and innocent, like she was trying to join the family, not tear it apart.

If I ever said anything harsh, Nathaniel would see it as her being bullied.

I’d seen other girls. Younger, prettier, more interesting.

But they were always in too much of a hurry.

Too eager for him to choose. Too eager for me to leave.

Only Cassidy never rushed. Never fought. Never grabbed.

She just moved in with her pregnant belly, called me “Isabella” like we were sisters, and did what none of the others could.

…

At one fifty in the afternoon, I sat on a bench at the courthouse.

I called Nathaniel for the ninth time.

This time, he answered.

“Where are you?” I asked.

His voice was casual. “Taking Cassidy to her prenatal appointment. I’m busy. Just wait. I’ll come when I’m done.”

“I said two o’clock.”

“The divorce isn’t going anywhere.” He sounded like he was calming down a difficult child. “Let me finish with Cassidy first. Gotta go.”

Wait.

Always wait.

I watched the people coming and going.

Couples here to split up.

Some with red eyes. Some with blank faces.

I used to cry like that too. Used to fall apart.

And every time he softened, I got a “reward.” He wouldn’t leave.

But today, the reward I wanted wasn’t the same.

The clerk called the next number.

I pulled out my phone and texted my lawyer.

[Patricia, file for divorce through the court. I’ll send you the documents this afternoon.]