She turned to tell him as such, but instead she found him frozen, staring at the phone.
“You’re the best guy we have! The hotshots at the NYC offices will be lucky to have you. Try not to be a stranger, okay? Anyway, best of luck and see you around!”
Maddy’s heart stuttered at those words. She felt like she couldn’t move, like one step would make her shutter like glass.
Was he leaving?
But.
How was this possible?
Maddy didn’t know at what point in the message she’d turned partially away from that voice. Was it the moment her ears had started ringing, or maybe when her heartbeat had gotten so loud she thought it’d drown out everything around her?
Or maybe it was when the message ended and she somehow felt the urgent need to shield herself from its words, as if they had been knives aimed at her and her heavy heart. The heart that always strived to believe that happiness was there to stay. That it wasn’t a fleeting dream but a reality she could see, and touch, and taste.
She could have laughed if her chest hadn’t felt so hollow.
***
What. The. Fuck.
What the hell had that been?
Since when were people congratulating him on something that wasn’t even true?
Yes, Nate had pursued the promotion, thinking it would be a change of pace for his career.
And yes, he had received an official offer to transfer to New York.
But he’d turned it down. He was perfectly happy with his life. He lived closer to his mom and his brother, he had his friends one text away, and he had…Maddy.
Everything inside him came to a screeching halt. He swiveled his head towards Maddy and found her in the same spot as a few minutes ago.
She wasn’t moving, she was just standing there. He wasn’t even sure she was breathing.
When she lifted her eyes to meet his, Nate realized he had never felt such dread before in his life. The hurt shining in her beautiful hazel eyes was enough to make him shrivel inside.
He knew what she must be thinking. It was obvious from the way she was staring at him from across the room, eyes filled with betrayal.
The way she glanced briefly towards the door snapped him out of his stupor.
“Maddy, no,” he said, his sense of terror bleeding into his voice.
But she was already shaking her head.
“I have to leave,” she uttered in a voice so quiet, his heart squeezed in painful grip.
No. If he let her leave now, Nate knew that he would probably never see her again.
Maddy started heading towards where her bag and jacket hung next to the door but Nate was faster.
He went after her and caught her arm before she could make one more step away from him.
“Maddy, wait!” She didn’t even put up any resistance, she merely stopped.
“Is this a joke to you?” Her question was barely a whisper.
It felt as if she had slapped him.
