Page 14 of Broken Vows

“Alexis? Jeremy? What a surprise!”

I turn to see Lilly approaching our table, Zeke in tow. My stomach drops. This was supposed to be our night, a chance to reconnect without any outside interference. But here’s Lilly, beaming at us like she’s stumbled upon a delightful surprise.

“Lilly, Zeke, hi,” I manage, forcing a smile. “What brings you here?”

“Oh, just a little date night,” Lilly says, waving her hand dismissively. “Mind if we join you for a minute?”

Before either Jeremy or I can respond, Lilly’s pulling up a chair, Zeke following suit with an apologetic shrug.

“So, tell me everything,” Lilly says, leaning in conspiratorially. “How’s life at home? Are you two still doing that dinner thing you talked about?”

I feel Jeremy tense beside me, his posture stiffening. “We’re working on it,” he says, his voice tight.

Her eyes narrow slightly, darting between us. “And how about your weekends? Any fun plans coming up?”

The rapid-fire questions feel like an interrogation. I glance at Jeremy, seeing the same discomfort I feel reflected in his eyes.

“We’re taking things day by day,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. “Actually, we were thinking of going for a hike next sunday.”

“A hike?” Lilly’s eyebrows shoot up. “That’s… different for you two.”

I feel a flash of irritation at her surprise. “We used to hike all the time,” I say, perhaps a bit more defensively than necessary.

An awkward silence falls over the table. I can see Jeremy retreating into himself, his gaze fixed on the tablecloth. Zeke, bless him, seems to sense the tension.

“Well, we should let you two enjoy your dinner,” he says, standing up. “It was great running into you.”

Lilly looks like she wants to protest, but Zeke’s hand on her shoulder seems to make her think better of it. “Right, of course. Enjoy your evening!”

As they walk away, I let out a sigh. I turn to Jeremy, ready to laugh off the awkward encounter, but the words die in my throat. His expression is closed off, distant in a way that’s become all too familiar lately.

“Jeremy?” I reach out, my fingers brushing against his hand. He pulls away, almost imperceptibly, but the small movement feels like a chasm opening between us.

“I’m fine,” he says, not meeting my eyes. “Just… not very hungry anymore.”

The rest of the dinner passes in a haze of stilted conversation and long silences. By the time we’re in the car, heading home, the tentative hope I’d felt earlier has all but evaporated.

He stares straight ahead as he drives, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. I want to reach out, to bridge this sudden gap between us, but something holds me back. The silence in the car is oppressive, filled with all the things we’re not saying.

As we pull into our driveway, I can’t take it anymore. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Nothing. I’m just tired.”

“Bullshit,” I say, surprising myself with the vehemence in my voice. “This isn’t about being tired. What happened back there?”

His jaw clenches. “Can we not do this right now? Please?”

The plea in his voice makes me pause. I study his profile in the dim light of the car, seeing the exhaustion etched in the lines of his face. Whatever’s going on, pushing him now won’t help.

“Okay,” I say softly. “But we need to talk about this. Soon.”

He nods, a quick, jerky motion, before getting out of the car. I follow him into the house, watching as he heads straight for the bedroom without another word.

As I hear the bedroom door close, I’m left standing in our living room, surrounded by the echoes of our failed date night. The house feels colder somehow, emptier. I wrap my arms around myself.

One step forward, two steps back. The phrase echoes in my mind as I sink onto the couch, the weight of disappointment settling heavy on my shoulders. As I stare at the closed bedroom door, I can’t help but wonder if we’re fighting for something that’s already lost.

The brush glidesacross the canvas, leaving a streak of crimson in its wake. I step back, squinting at the painting before me. It’s abstract, a swirl of dark colors punctuated by bursts of fiery reds and oranges. I’m not sure what it means, but it feels right. It feels like the chaos in my head made visible.

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