Page 103 of It Should Have Been Me

“Hi, beautiful.”.

“Hi.” I still can’t get this stupid grin off my face. “We finally did it.”

“I love the symmetry of this moment.” He nuzzles his face into my neck, whispering softly in my ear. “Eight years ago, on this very beach, I proposed to you. And we danced to CNCO as we watched the sunset. And now, after all this time, you finally said I do. And we’re dancing to CNCO as we watch the sunset.”

“It’s been a long time, Soldier. Wanna know something weird?”

“What?”

“You proposed to me eight years ago, but I’ve actually known you for about thirteen. You just weren’t very kind to me those first few years in high school. Both those numbers are part of the Fibonacci sequence, sotechnically, the perfection of this moment is not symmetry...it’s phi.”

He chuckles. “You’re such a smart-ass. I can’t believe I willingly signed up to do this for the rest of my life.”

“Yep, yourwholelife, Soldier...and it all starts today.”

Hurricane Carter. My perfect storm. It swooped in and took everything from me. The last gust of wind demolished my career. I look at the debris of what’s left of my life that was bright and glamorous a mere six weeks ago, and just like a hurricane, an utter wreckage is left in its wake. I barely recognize it. But now that the storm has passed, the water will start to recede, the clouds will dissipate and then I can rebuild. The prospect excites me. The possibilities seem endless because this time I’ll be building a new, incredible life withhim.

27. Scott

Six years later....

Today’s the day. Today’s the day I break the news to Cat. I have always kept my promises to her, but this was a promise I just couldn’t keep. I tried...and I failed miserably. Though, in my defense, I was ignorant when I made the promise. At the time, I was so in love with Cat that I couldn’t even conceive that thought that I could love someone more. But I was wrong. I can and do love someone else more. In fact, she brings me joy in a way Cat could never.

When she holds me, I’m putty in her hands. When she tells me she loves me, it fulfills something in my soul. Cat has never made me feel that way. Well, she has, but this is different somehow.

“Anji, you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” And even as I say it, I’m filled with guilt because there was a time when words like that were reserved only for my wife.

She turns away from the mirror to face me, focusing those big blue eyes on mine. “Thanks, daddy.”

“She gets it from me,” Cat says from the entrance of the bathroom.

It’s not a lie. Apart from her eyes, she’s the spitting image of her mother with the same bronzed skin and unruly curls.

“Now, can you get her ready?” Cat hands me a hairbrush. “We need to leave in ten minutes.”

“And that’s mommy ruining another perfect moment.” My annoyance overrides my guilt, and I blurt out my confession right then and there. “Cat, I want you to know that my love for you now ranks second. I know I promised that you would always be my number one, but you aren’t anymore. I’m sorry, but Anji has taken your place.”

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