The Risk Form I Signed Alone, The Wedding I Called Off Chapter 09

The Risk Form I Signed Alone, The Wedding I Called Off Chapter 09

The day Owen and I got engaged, only the people who mattered most were there. No officiant. No Bant screen. No overblown ceremony.

Owen said he was terrified he’d mess up his words out of nerves. Sasha immediately cut–in: “You

run your mouth nonstop every other day of your life, and now you’re scared?”

He just nodded, resigned. “I’m acclimating ahead of time.”

When we exchanged rings, his palms were sweating. The ring caught on my knuckle and stuck.

I looked at him and couldn’t resist. “Push any harder and my finger’s going to file for

emancipation.”

Everyone laughed. Owen laughed too. He slowed down, eased the ring carefully into place, and looked at me. His voice was quiet but absolutely steady. “Elara, from now on, say whatever you want whenever you want. If you don’t feel like talking, that’s fine too.”

“I’ll be here.”

My nose stung. “Okay.”

After the dinner wound down, I stepped out onto the balcony for some air. Footsteps followed almost immediately. I thought it was Owen. When I turned, I saw Bryce. He wore a black suit, standing in the dark with nothing in his hands. Just watching me, quiet.

“I didn’t go inside,” he said. “I figured you wouldn’t want to see me.”

I looked at him, keeping my voice level. “Then why are you here?”

A faint, sad smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I needed to be sure of something.”

“What?”

“That you’re genuinely happy now.”

I didn’t answer right away. He followed my gaze into the banquet room. Owen was being force–fed juice by Sasha. My dad was staring him down, making sure he didn’t run. My mom was snapping photos, laughing, eyes crinkled at the corners.

Bryce watched for a long time. Then he said, quietly, “It looks good.”

“Better than it ever did when you were with me.”

This time, I didn’t argue.

He pulled a card out of his pocket and held it out. “After the condo settlement, there were some

additional gains. This is what I owe you.”

t’s not what the lawyers calculated. It’s what I owe.”

I shook my head. “The lawyers already closed that out.”

“I know.” He didn’t pull the card back. “But this is what I should have given.”

“I don’t want it.”

His eyes slowly reddened. “Elara, can you not shut me down so fast?”

“No.”

He went silent for a long stretch before his voice came out raw. “I always used to think I could give you anything whenever I got around to it.”

“Money, time, attention, answers. I figured I’d make it up to you later.”

“I thought because you loved me, you’d wait forever.”

He paused, and it looked like even breathing hurt. “Then I finally realized–Every time you waited, you loved me a little less.”

“By the time I really saw it, you were already done waiting.”

I looked at him, and all I felt was calm. After a long moment, I said, “Bryce, I used to love you so

much.”

His eyes went wet.

“When you’d text me back one word, I’d invent ten excuses for you.”

“When you forgot my birthday, I’d worry first that you were too stressed.”

“The night before my surgery, I was still waiting for you to come home.”

“But love isn’t a faucet. You can’t just twist the handle and turn it back on. It’s more like a candle. Once it burns down, it’s gone.”

Bryce’s head dropped. His shoulders started to shake, just barely.

I looked at him and kept my voice low. “You don’t have to come check on me anymore. I’m doing really well now. And I’m not looking back.“–

He nodded. “I know.”

He stepped back. “Goodbye, Elara.”

I nodded. “Goodbye.”

This time, he really did walk away.

Owen came out a moment later. He didn’t ask who I’d been talking to. He just draped his jacket over my shoulders. “Cold?”

“Not really.”

“Then let’s go inside.” He tipped his head toward the banquet room. “Sasha’s threatening to do whole dramatic durian–opening thing. Something about it feels like a terrible idea.

I froze. “Is she insane?”

“She’s calling it an engagement blessing.”

“What did the durian ever do to her?”

Owen burst out laughing. “I asked the same thing. She told me to shut up.”

I looped my arm through his.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. One last message from Bryce. [I hope every word you speak from now on lands on someone who’s really listening.]

I read it. I didn’t reply. I deleted the thread. Then I slid my phone back into my pocket.

Inside, Sasha had already hoisted the durian, ready to strike. My mom was shouting danger, my dad

was charging in with a knife, and the scene had devolved into pure chaos.

Owen pulled me behind him, laughing. “Don’t go over there, That’s a war zone.”

I doubled over, laughing.

He glanced sideways at me. “Elara.”

“Yeah?”

“Does tonight’s moon look like someone took a bite out of a biscuit?”

I looked up. It looked nothing like a biscuit. But I still nodded. “Yeah.”

He broke into a grin instantly. “I knew you’d get it.”

I watched him standing there so smug and couldn’t help myself. “Your metaphors, though. All they do is make me hungry.”

Owen’s grin widened. “So–late–night food run?”

“Absolutely.”

“What do you want?”

“Clam chowder.”

“No shellfish?”

I shook my head. “You know I’m allergic.”

He laced his fingers tighter through mine. “Chessy Chicken, then.”

I looked at him. And I realized the night breeze felt genuinely good.

“Owen.”

“Yeah?”

“If you want to, you can keep talking. All the way there.”

He paused for a second. Then he smiled. “Good. I’m listening.”

I pulled him toward the hall. Behind us, no one was looking back. Ahead, there was noise and warmth, lights spilling into the dark, a new night starting.

I wouldn’t have to swallow my words anymore. I wouldn’t have to wait for someone who couldn’t be bothered to turn around.

From now on, every stupid, rambling, ordinary thing I said would land on someone willing to catch

it.