You Wanted Space! We’re Done, Dr. Whitmore Chapter 07

You Wanted Space! We’re Done, Dr. Whitmore Chapter 07

I was walking home from work, still racking tny brain for Chase Sterling.

Nothing came up.

My phone buzzed. I picked up without checking the screen.

Adrian’s voice hit me-low, tight, barely holding back.

“Claire. You didn’t show for the procedure. I waited all day.”

My voice stayed flat.

“I went to another Riverdale Medical Center.”

His tone cut through, frustration bleeding in.

“Since when do you switch hospitals without running it by me? Your closet’s empty. Your suitcase is gone. What, you’re on a trip with Sophie? Why didn’t you tell me?”

I threw his own words right back at him.

“Is that really worth a whole conversation?”

A beat of silence.

Because those words-his words-used to be his shield. His excuse. Now they were mine.

Seconds later, his voice eased.

Trying to make peace.

“There’s a dinner with friends the day after tomorrow. Plus-one invited. You always wanted to meet my

friends. You can come.’

“No.”

I used to beg to be let into his world. Into his circle.

He called me clingy. Said he needed space.

Now that I was gone. He was opening the door.

He didn’t see that coming. The silence thickened.

Then: “You’ve been spending all your time with Sophie lately. I’m your boyfriend. We’re the ones together. Traveling. Shopping. Movies. I can do all that with you. You don’t need to keep roping her into everything.”

Traveling.

Shupping.

Movies.

I’d asked him. So many times.

Too busy. Wait. Later.

The places closed. The clothes sold out. The movies left theaters.

He never had time.

I wasn’t going to rehash the past. I just told him the truth.

“I applied for a relocation transfer. I’ve already moved to the new city. I’m not coming back.”

The line went silent.

Like the words hadn’t landed.

Then, slowly: “Transfer? When? Claire-something this big, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Forgot.”

That word hit him like a slap.

He let out a frustrated breath. I could picture him-pinching the bridge of his nose. Same old habit.

“What happened to you?”

Then he started listing things. Like he was building a case against me.

“You used to blow up my phone. You used to tell me everything Big things. Small things. Every single one.”

“Now? Leave without a word. Block me without a word. Move to another city without a word.”

“And I’m your boyfriend. Your future husband. The last one to know.”

“Claire.”

“Don’t you think you’re taking this too far?”

My voice didn’t waver.

“You told me not to be clingy. You said I was exhausting. You told me to be independent.”

“So I started making my own decisions. Stopped running everything by you. Stopped being a bother.”

I paused.

That’s who you wanted me to become. That’s who I am now.”

“So why aren’t you happy now?”

Nothing.

Just his breathing on the other end.

Finally, low and rough: “That’s not what I meant.

I cut him off.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I’m settled in the new city. I’m not coming back.”

“As for the dinner. You can take Evelyn. She’s not your sister, but you’ve always treated her like a project. She can be your plus-one.”

He tried to speak.

I didn’t let him.

“One more thing. I forgot to mention this before.”

“I’m telling you now.”

“Adrian.”

“We’re already over.”