He Took His Childhood Friend to the World Cup, Leaving Me With Their Cat Chapter 01

He Took His Childhood Friend to the World Cup, Leaving Me With Their Cat Chapter 01

I scored tickets to the World Cup, Barrett’s absolute favorite event.

I rushed over to surprise him, only to overhear his friend arguing with him in the hallway.

“Sloane cleared her entire schedule and busted her ass to get those tickets just to go with you. Now you’re taking Chloe instead? That’s messed up.”

Barrett exhaled a cloud of smoke, completely unfazed.

“Going with Sloane is boring. Chloe and I have a tradition. She’s accompanied me to every single World Cup.”

The words landed harder than I expected.

Boring. A tradition.

Just like that, twelve years of waiting turned into a joke.

Twelve years, three World Cups. He had gone with Chloe the first two times.

I had cried and screamed at him back then.

He had held me close, sweet-talking me. “Chloe and I grew up together. It’s just a habit. She was always the one by my side before you came along. Come on, babe, next time I promise it’ll be just us.”

I believed him.

I waited four long years.

But when the time came, his “tradition” still had no room for me.

Clutching the tickets, I laughed.

I ripped them down the middle and slammed them into the trash can.

Twelve years. From start to finish, I was just a placeholder.

It really was exhausting.

—

When Barrett came home, he was carrying Chloe’s white Persian cat in his arms.

“Sloane, do me a favor and watch Honey for a bit, will you?”

He finally looked up, and his face dropped when he saw me packing.

“Stop messing with your bags.”

“It was Chloe’s birthday last month, and her only wish was for us to watch the World Cup together.”

“I already promised her.”

His tone was gentle, but there wasn’t a hint of negotiation in it.

He was just delivering a verdict.

I slid my passport and our marriage license paperwork into the deepest pocket of my suitcase.

My parents had mailed the paperwork from Vermont two weeks ago so we could finally file it at City Hall.

We were scheduled to go down to City Hall on the 9th of next month.

Now, I realized a clean breakup was a hell of a lot better than a divorce.

I didn’t even look up, my voice dropping to a freezing register.

“You promised me four years ago that you’d take me this time.”

“That’s not the same thing! Chloe is an outsider. I can’t break a promise to a friend.”

His voice sharpened, growing heavier.

My heart was completely numb as I finally met his eyes.

“Out of the three of us, I’m the outsider.”

Barrett’s jaw tightened.

“Are we really doing the Chloe thing again? Drop it, Sloane.”

“Chloe and I grew up together. I’ve told you a million times, it’s strictly platonic!”

“We’re literally getting our marriage license next month! Do you really not trust me at all?”

“I’m tired of having the same fight with you.”

He rubbed his temples.

Every time we fought over Chloe, he acted like he was carrying the weight of the world.

My face remained blank.

“I’m exhausted too.”

I paused, then added, “If you’re used to Chloe being there, go with her.”

“I have no desire to tag along.”

Barrett blinked, caught off guard by the lack of a screaming match.

Thinking I was backing down like I always did, he let out a visible sigh of relief.

“Don’t overthink this. I’ll bring you back something nice.”

The cat leaped from his arms, strutting right over to my suitcase.

Barrett cleared his throat. “Chloe’s family is out of town, and my parents can’t stand cat hair at their place.”

“She couldn’t find anyone else to pet-sit on short notice. Just watch Honey for a couple of weeks, okay?”

She takes care of my man, and I take care of her cat.

Unbelievable.