My chest tightened, but I scrolled further. Another picture. This one was from tonight; her arm looped through him, with a radiant smile that made my stomach turn.
Caption: *My best friend, my soulmate, my lover.*
I laughed softly, more out of provocation than amusement. My face twisted in bitterness. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, and before I could stop myself, I typed, “Wow. A pleasant match from heaven.”
Almost immediately, my phone dinged. She responded.
But I didn’t care to read it. I logged off, tossing the phone aside. The message was clear. I finally understood what Skyler wanted. He had always wanted her. And me? I was just a backup plan, something to hold onto while he waited for Tia to return. But I wasn’t going to let that happen anymore.
It’s over. Completely. I’ll move on, and forget Skyler ever existed in my life.
Period!
The following morning, I arrived at my office door and immediately noticed something odd. A card rested on top of a food box, neatly placed by the door. Hesitantly, I picked it up and peeked into the box. It was breakfast—perfectly arranged, still warm. My fingers opened the card, and the words hit me like a slap in the face:
{Hey, love, enjoy the breakfast I’ve given you, and think of me always. Skyler.}
My face twisted in disgust as the memories from the night before surged back—Skyler’s effortless affection for Tia, treating her like a queen, right in front of me on my birthday. My stomach churned. Without a second thought, I carried the box out of the building, headed straight for the trash bin, and dropped it. The box hit the bottom with a hollow thud. I dusted my hands off, feeling a small surge of satisfaction as I turned to go back inside.
Then, I saw him. Skyler stood there, his face slowly twisting in anger, eyes flicking between me and the trash bin.
“What the heck did you just do?” His voice rose in fury, his fists clenched. “You threw away the meal I got you?”
His words didn’t even make me flinch. Where his anger once intimidated me, now it was just noise. I met his glare with cold indifference. “I don’t want anything from you, Skyler.”
I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm roughly, yanking me back. “What’s wrong with you, Raya? Are you still upset?”
I chuckled, mocking him with my eyes. “Upset?” I raised an eyebrow. “You used to treat me like this too, right? Shouldn’t I be used to it by now?”