He Posted Ninety-Nine Sorries And I Posted My Goodbye Chapter 02

He Posted Ninety-Nine Sorries And I Posted My Goodbye Chapter 02

After my shower, I sat on the edge of my bed while my mom stood behind me with the hairdryer.

“You and Ethan, I swear—since you were little kids, you were inseparable. He went to one high school, you went to the same one. He went to Northwood, you went. Then he starts med school and you stay for grad school just so you can be in the same city.”

I could barely hear her over the dryer. “Almost twenty years, Sophie. I just wish you’d realize you deserve better than always being the one chasing. I always have.”

My eyes burned, but I stayed quiet.

She didn’t know Ethan and I had been together for five years. From one coast to the other, through every season.

He just never acknowledged me. Not once.

That night, both families had dinner together.

The second I walked in, the cat padded over and rubbed its head against my shin. I bent down to look at it, but didn’t reach out.

Ginny laughed. “Oh! Sophie, have you seen this cat before?”

I remembered the day Ethan brought it home. He’d actually texted me first. That was rare.

“You like cats, don’t you?”

That one sentence made my whole day.

I thought he was finally bending for me. A guy allergic to cats, willing to take one in—how was that not a sign?

Now I knew better.

It was never about me.

I shook my head. “First time.”

The front door opened. Ethan walked in with Lily Harper.

She spotted the cat immediately, ran over and scooped it up. “Milo!! Mommy missed you so much!” Then she turned to Ethan. “Was she good?”

Ethan glanced at me, then said, “I sent you videos every day, didn’t I?”

Ginny caught on. “Wait—this is Ethan’s… girlfriend?”

Lily looked at Ethan, then laughed and waved a hand. “Not yet. I just went abroad to visit family, and he offered to watch Milo! for me.”

Ginny got the hint and enthusiastically invited her to stay for dinner.

Ethan didn’t say anything. He just looked at me.

I knew that look.

He was waiting for my reaction.

Before, I’d get jealous, get upset, pick a fight with him privately.

But tonight, I just pulled out a chair and poured myself a glass of water.

At the table, Ginny served Lily twice. First cilantro—Ethan spoke up. “She doesn’t eat cilantro.”

Then shrimp—he stopped her. “She’s allergic to shellfish.”

My mom glanced at me, her expression unreadable.

I kept my head down and ate.

Halfway through dinner, it started storming outside.

Ginny said, “The rain’s so bad—you should stay the night.”

Lily looked at Ethan. He stayed quiet.

Ginny pressed. “Ethan, say something.”

His voice was flat. “No spare room.”

My hand paused on my bowl. “She can take my room. I was going to clear it out anyway.”

I’d always had my own room at the Coles’. Ethan set it up for me years ago. We spent most of our breaks there—building Legos, watching cartoons. Back then, I really thought that room would always be mine.

“Fine.” He looked at me, voice deliberately even. “Use whatever’s in there. Anything you don’t like—throw it out.”

Lily’s eyes went between us, lips pressed together.

Lightning split the sky. Thunder rolled.

I took a bite of greens and chewed slowly.

“Sophie.” Ethan said my name.

I looked up.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

He held my gaze for two seconds. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth—but I knew that smile. He was pissed.

He turned to Lily. “The room’s at the end of the hall. I’ll take you up later.”

Lily nodded sweetly. “Okay. Thanks, Ethan.”