It’s Not That I Didn’t Wait, It’s That You Never Chose Me Chapter 04

It’s Not That I Didn’t Wait, It’s That You Never Chose Me Chapter 04

“Minor?”

I didn’t look at him again. I turned and walked out of the room.

For the next two days, I was unnaturally quiet.

I helped my sister research schools, compare admissions ranges, and sort through financial aid options.

In the end, I settled on one of the best the direct-admit BS/MD programs in the country, out of state.

The whole time, I never asked Adrian for another word of advice.

On the afternoon of the third day, I came home after picking up a package.

The moment I opened the door, I heard drawers being yanked open and things being thrown around in the guest room.

I changed out of my shoes and walked over.

Adrian was standing there directing two movers as they hauled things out.

That room was where Tessa always stayed when she came to the city during breaks.

It held the books she’d collected growing up, and a thick, handmade cotton comforter my father had carried all the way from Pine Creek one winter because he wanted her to sleep warm.

Now that comforter had been tossed onto the floor like trash, already ground into the dust.

The study materials on my sister’s desk had been swept into black garbage bags.

“Hurry it up,” Adrian was saying coolly. “Throw out that cheap twin bed too. The new gaming bed gets delivered this afternoon.”

“What are you doing, Adrian?” I asked from the doorway.

He turned, completely unbothered. “Bryce is moving in tomorrow.”

He spoke with total nonchalance. “He’s starting an intensive arts program in the city, and staying in a hotel isn’t practical. The room’s empty anyway. I’m clearing it out for him.”

I pointed at the comforter trampled with footprints and dust. “My father had that made by hand. This is Tessa’s room.”

Adrian frowned at me like I was the one being irrational. “Elaina, Tessa’s going out of state for college. She won’t be coming here much anymore.”

Then he added, without a shred of shame, “Bryce needs peace and quiet. Make sure your country relatives don’t come around disrupting him.”

The movers stood there awkwardly, not knowing where to look.

One of them cleared his throat. “Boss, you still want this blanket tossed?”

“Yes.”

“I’d like to see who tries.”

I walked over, bent down, and picked up the comforter with both arms.

Adrian’s voice turned sharp with irritation.

“Do you have to make this humiliating for everyone? Vanessa’s already got enough on her plate taking care of her brother. Can’t you be sensible for once?”

I looked at his righteous face and suddenly laughed.

Then I turned, went back into the master bedroom, and shut the door gently behind me.

Over the next half month, Bryce moved in as if it were his rightful place.

The guest room blasted screeching heavy metal all night long, and Adrian, who had always claimed he had a delicate nervous system and couldn’t handle noise, never once complained.

Instead, he stayed up with Bryce night after night helping him revise his portfolio.

I treated both of them like they were made of air and went quietly about my own life.

Adrian seemed to think I had finally learned my lesson. That I had stopped fighting. That I had accepted my place.

Then, one afternoon, I got a call from the mailroom downstairs.

I went down and picked up a bright red Priority Mail envelope from the delivery driver.

The moment I tore it open, the acceptance letter slid into my hands.

It was from a direct-admit BS/MD program.

Tessa Rowan.

Her name stood out in bold, gleaming like hot iron.

I took a photo and sent it to my father.

No one was home.

Adrian had taken Bryce out to get a custom suit for the university welcome gala.

I walked into the home office, opened the drawer, and took out the divorce settlement agreement I had printed days ago.

I laid it flat over his keyboard.

Beside it, I placed the house keys and the wedding ring I had worn for three years.

Then I pulled out the suitcase I had already packed. As I reached the entryway, my phone lit up.

It was a voice message from my father.

His voice was shaking with excitement.

“Elaina, the letter came! I’m heading out right now to buy a couple pounds of good meat. We’re putting together a real dinner tonight for Tessa. Ask Adrian if he’s busy,see if he can come back with you and eat with us.”

I dragged my suitcase into the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby.

A heavy tightness burned in my chest, but for the first time in weeks, the corner of my mouth lifted into a real smile.

I lowered my head and texted him back.

Elaina: [I’m heading to the station now.]

Elaina: [It’ll just be me coming home.]

Elaina: [From now on… it’ll only be me.]