We Promised to Wait for Everyone—But No One Waited for Me Chapter 08

We Promised to Wait for Everyone—But No One Waited for Me Chapter 08

I was doing well in Halloran City. I liked the new environment.

During that time, I’d kept getting their messages and calls.

Some were apologies. Some were concern.

Some were even reflection.

I ignored every one.

This morning, I was working on a new set of design boards when Kendall from the front desk knocked on my glass door.

“Delaney, someone’s downstairs asking for you. Says he’s your brother and… your boyfriend.”

My pen paused.

“Have them wait in the visitor lounge. I’ll be down when I finish this.”

Ten minutes later, I pushed open the lounge door.

Wesley sat on the couch. Miles stood by the window.

When I walked in, both of them straightened up.

“Delaney…” Miles spoke first, his voice a little hoarse. “You’ve lost weight.”

I sat on the sofa across from them.

“I’m fine. Why are you here?”

Wesley tried to smooth-talk.

“You don’t pick up, you don’t text back. We didn’t have any choice but to come.”

I looked at them, my tone cool.

“Is there something you need?”

Miles took a step forward.

“Delaney, I know I was wrong. I’ve done a lot of thinking. I don’t want to break up. I really don’t.”

“Yeah, Delaney, we know it’s on us. But you can’t just never come home. You can’t seriously not want me anymore.”

settled back into a comfortable position on the sofa.

“Your four-person group chat didn’t have me in it either, did it?”

“The dinner rule said nobody could be missing, except that sumchow it was fine to be missing me.”

“Do I really matter to you?”

Wesley looked at me, awkward.

“That was… we just thought you…”

“You thought I was working late, so there was no need to wait. But you never once thought Josie wouldn’t come home.”

I kept going, my voice calm.

“When Josie’s late, you say it’s not a real family dinner without her. When I’m late, you buy food for

four.”

“Josie’s hands draw design boards, so they can’t touch grease, so I do the dishes.”

“I draw design boards, too. Is my work worth less than hers?”

Wesley and Miles stood there, unable to answer.

“I could list a lot more differences like that.”

“Like graduation gifts.”

“Maybe you’ve forgotten. For Josie, a Polaroid you’d been planning for three months. For me, a little plant you picked up on the way.”

“Did you ever really think about how I felt?”

Miles lowered his head and murmured, “Delaney…”

I looked at him.

“Miles, you said Josie is the youngest. I’m only two months older than her.”

“And even if, as the older cousin, I don’t resent her being pampered, what about the design

boards?”

I turned to Wesley.

“Wesley, last year I helped with your bid proposal. Three all-nighters, because I didn’t want you worn out. Did you think I didn’t treat you as my brother?”

“And then you took my design boards and handed them to Josie for the shortlist. You’re my brother, and you’re Josie’s cousin.”

“When you came up with that plan, did you think of me at all?”

Then I turned to Miles.

“You’re my boyfriend. You care about my cousin more than you care about me, you look after her more than you look after me. Do you think that’s right?”

“Miles, you crossed the line a long time ago.”

Miles opened his mouth, then closed it.

Wesley stared at the floor, hands clasped, his knuckles white.

I stood up.

“You came here today. One of you says he doesn’t want to break up. The other says he can’t lose a sister.”

“But have you ever thought that you’re the ones who stopped caring first?”

At the lounge door, I looked back at them.

“Go home.”

“Halloran City is good. I’m doing well here,”

With that, I pulled the door open and walked out.

I never looked back.