#Chapter 37: Late Again
Abby

The once golden glow of the candles seems dull now. The shadows in the room stretch longer, a stark

contrast to the beautifully set table, pristine and untouched. The wine, once poured with anticipation,

sits still, a silent witness to my growing anxiety. The aroma of the truffle oil, once intoxicating, now only

serves as a bitter reminder of the love I had poured into preparing for this evening.

The clock on the wall seems to mock me with its relentless ticking, each second stretching into an

eternity. My phone lays idle beside me, and the absence of a call or message from Adam weighs

heavily on my heart.

Trying to ward off the budding dread, I take a deep breath and dial his number. “Maybe he’s stuck in

traffic or something,” I think to myself. “Or, g od forbid, he got into an accident.”

After dialing his number, I hold my phone up to my ear with a shaky hand. The soft hum of the ringtone

echoes in the silence.

After what feels like a lifetime, he answers. The din of background noises hits me instantly—shouts,

laughter, the unmistakable hustle and bustle of his restaurant.

My stomach sinks. He’s working. I should have known better.

“Adam?” My voice quivers slightly.

“Abby? What’s up?”

His casual tone catches me off guard, and I try to steady myself. “What’s up? Seriously? You were

supposed to be here over an hour ago!”

“Oh…right. About that,” he starts, his voice hurried and distracted. “Look, Abby, I got swamped here.

Thought maybe you wouldn’t mind if I sat this one out. You know, have dinner by yourself? You can

save me some leftovers for tomorrow, right?”

Tears pr ick at my eyes, and I feel a twinge of anger. “This wasn’t just about the food, Adam! It was

together, reconnecting. This was about

once, I actually wanted you to

he interrupts. “Don’t make

whimper, biting my lip

sighs. “I’m sorry, Abbs. I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. We see each other

you know?”

week, when you took me out?”

says, sounding annoyed now. “Just like last week, when

your request,

I say, pinching the bridge

have gone with me if you had been able to work that night. It was

and you had nothing better to

his teeth on the other end, and

that night, I would have, Abby. You know

is to me. But we still had fun, didn’t

sick. I knew all along that he would have rather gone to work that

like

pr ods. “Admit it: we had fun. It was

wasn’t about just having fun, Adam,” I hiss. “Yeah, the

to drink, just like you always do when we’re together. It’s like… It’s like you can’t even

unless you’re

a moment. The sounds of the

think I can hear him put his hand over the

to someone else, and it only makes my blood boil even more. It’s

not true,” he finally says. “Of course I can be sober

not wanting to get into that aspect anymore. I’ve noticed how

together, but that’s his own

all that, you…” I hesitate, the hurt from that evening flooding back. “You couldn’t even

intimate with me.”

around the room, taking in the details—the vibrant colors of the fresh

of the lace curtains from the soft evening breeze. It all seemed so perfect

few hours ago.

again, this time

“Adam?” I call out.

his throat. “I don’t wanna talk about it,” he says quietly. “Sh

us, Adam? What about our relationship?”

me right now, and I can’t be in two places at once. Can’t

just reschedule?”

attitude is the final straw. Tears stream down my face, and I struggle to

How can you even suggest that? I put my

you can just

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