I Stopped Waiting And Traveled Alone Chapter 02

I Stopped Waiting And Traveled Alone Chapter 02

I’d fought with Hayes countless times over Hannah.

The worst fight came when I found out she’d sent him links for two sleepwear sets, asking him to help pick one out.

Seeing the set she wanted him to choose made my blood boil. I confronted him, voice shaking with rage. “Do you seriously think that’s not crossing a line?”

He frowned, growing impatient. “We’re heading out for Norrith Ice-Sheet in a few days. She has sensitive skin and trouble sleeping. She just wanted a second opinion on sleepwear. Can you stop overanalyzing everything?”

“Jenna, go get a job if you’ve got so much free time. You’re fully capable of supporting yourself. Stop relying on a man to take care of you. I’m not your dad. I can’t keep coddling you.”

He stormed out and slammed the door behind him.

Every breath hurt, and my chest ached. I remembered his confession years ago—how he’d told me I could stay little girl forever.

Right after graduation, I hadn’t found a full-time job yet, but I’d been earning money publishing my own novels.

Hayes didn’t come home for an entire week, giving me the cold shoulder. As always, I was the one who caved first.

I landed a new job. I showed up at our place with a bouquet of flowers and cried in his arms.

He stroked my hair and sighed. “Stop throwing childish tantrums. Grow up. You know you’ve been the only one I’ve ever loved.”

I pressed my face against his shoulder, but inside I felt hollow and numb.

Three days after he came home, I opened a shared spreadsheet and found an Excel file. It listed locations all across the globe. Tucked into the cells next to each location were private notes between Hayes and Hannah—their little hidden world.

Duskport:

Hayes: [Can swing by, we’ll collect extra ocean current data.]

Salvinton:

Hannah: [Been there a couple times, pass. That fried chicken place we tried last time was terrible :(]

Hayes: [Hahaha, fair. Your restaurant picks are hit-or-miss.]

Hannah: [All the reviews said it was great!]

Bexley:

Hannah: [I wanna watch the northern lights!]

Hayes: [Alright, we’ll go there.]

I read through every single entry. By the end, tears were streaming down my face before I even realized it.

The Salvinton I’d dreamed of visiting? Hayes had already taken another woman there, time and time again.

I pulled myself together and booked a one-way flight to Salvinton. I watched sunsets along Coconut Promenade alone and walked along the shore late at night. I finally understood: solo travel was incredible.

Back in Brampton, I accepted my company’s transfer offer to Hightown.

Sarah teased me. “Weren’t you dead-set against long-distance before? Refused to move no matter what?”

I smiled. “I’ve figured some things out.”

Turns out I didn’t need Hayes after all.

She nodded and signed off on my transfer paperwork. “Your new team lead is Jesse White, an alum from your university. You two should hit it off.”