He dropped his coat over the arm of the chair and didn’t look at me when he answered.
“I’ve been busy, Carmen.”
“I know, but…” I folded my arms across my chest, trying to keep my hands from shaking. “We should talk about last night.”
His eyes flicked toward me. “We should.”
I took a breath, steadying myself. “I’m sorry I reacted the way I did. I should’ve handled it better. But I was so overwhelmed with everything, it just took me to a place I never thought I’d be in with you.”
My throat tightened, but I kept going.
“I never thought you’d make a decision like that without me. But it seems like it’s become a pattern with you.”
He tilted his head, face unreadable. “I’m assuming you mean me not telling you about the vasectomy reversal.”
“Yes,” I said. “But I was more inclined to let that go. I mean, yes—it affects me. But at the end of the day, that was your choice. But this?”
He nodded once. “I know. And I agree with everything you just said. I was wrong to try to force you to stay. I was wrong for going to Marcus. And I was wrong for dropping all of that on you the way I did.”
Then, his tone shifted to something calmer, but distant.
“That being said… I don’t think we should be together anymore.”
My heart dropped. Just like that.
My throat went dry, and the room started to spin. For a second, I thought I might faint.
“…Huh?” The word came out barely audible.
“I don’t think this is gonna work between us right now,” he said, voice flat. “It’s too much. For both of us.”
I stood there, stunned. My ears were ringing. I didn’t expect him to end it—not like this, not after everything. I didn’t expect him to want to end it.
“Teddy…” My voice cracked. “Please. Let’s just talk about it first.”
“What else is there to say?” he replied sharply, his voice low but cutting. “You said and acted exactly how you felt about us. No need to clarify that.”
I swallowed, my throat still dry. “Theodore—”
“I booked your flight back home.” He finally turned to me, eyes dull with something worse than anger—defeat. “That’s what you wanted, right? It leaves tomorrow at one. I’ll have to take you because the driver’s off.”
There was no malice in his tone—just a neat coldness. And somehow, that hurt more than if he’d yelled.
“Can we please talk about this before we decide to end it?” I asked, stepping closer.
He didn’t move.
“Why?” he said, a bitter laugh tucked beneath the question. “You gave me your ring back, Carmen. Is that what you’re gonna do every time we have a disagreement?”
“Theo—”
“You don’t want this like I thought you did.” He exhaled, slow and tired. “You’re not ready, and honestly, maybe I’m not either. This is for the best. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?”
A long pause hung between us, and I couldn’t breathe through it. All the hopes I had that we would work through it disappeared, but I didn’t dare ask if we were broken up. I was too scared to even form the words in my mind because I was terrified of the answer.
“…Okay,” I whispered.
His jaw flexed. “Great.”
