Page 45 of When Love Is Unexpected

"Eric, I don't think that would be appropriate."

"I bought the house for us," he says. "I hoped that someday, it would be our home, where we could raise a family."

"Eric, there is no point in seeing each other again. It will not change anything."

"It's Sam, isn't it?"

I should've never answered the phone.

"Eric, please don't make this harder."

"Harder for who? Harder for you and Goliath."

"Sam has nothing to do with my decision to end things with you. Please leave him out of this."

"Can you meet me tomorrow then?"

"I'm helping Loren unpack, and then we're having dinner with her family."

"Who's we?" he asks.

"Eric, please. Can we just end this and not prolong it?"

"I asked you a question."

"Sam is one of Loren's best friends, remember? They worked together for over a year, and then he bought the studio."

"So, the four of you are having dinner together?"

"Yes," I say.

"That was supposed to be me," he says, "We, as in you and me, were supposed to have dinner with your family this weekend."

I don't know what to do. I'm running out of patience.

"What about Saturday, then? Can you meet me then?"

"I can't. I'm going out of town Saturday."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't have to answer that. You and I are no longer together."

"You're going out of town with Sam."

"I'm going to San Diego with Sam to attend his sister's wedding."

Silence. When the seconds tick by for what seems like an eternity, I ask if he's still there.

"Eric?"

"How long have you been cheating on me?"

"Eric, I haven't seen Sam in over a year. I had no idea he was coming home."

"Coming home? This is not his home. Is he here to stay?"

"You know what I mean," I say. "No, I never cheated on you. Have you lost your mind?"

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