Page 81 of Letting Go

And I… I break.

“I can’t,” I whisper, barely audible.

His entire body stills. He looks up at me, confused, shattered, like I just cracked the world under his feet.

Then, in perfect Caden fashion, he doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t yell. Doesn’t beg. Just slowly, like his bones hurt, stands up. Closes the box. Nods once.

And walks away.

Gone.

Just… gone.

And Idon’tmove. Ican’t.

I just stand there, frozen, mouth still parted like maybe I’ll call after him. But I don’t.

The second the elevator dings, I crumple to the ground, right in the middle of the stupid flower petals and fairy lights like some tragic, heartbroken Disney princess who had it all and set it on fire.

I cry. Ugly, hiccupping, body-shaking sobs. And then my phone rings.

Keira.

I answer and try to pretend I’m not in pieces.

“So…” she starts, the smirk practically audible.

Then she hears it. The hiccup.

“Oh my God.You said no?”

“What?” I croak.

“Caden asked for my permission.Like—like some regency drama proposal. He literally took me to lunch, bought me pancakes, and asked if he could marry you.”

I blink through tears. “Wait… you said yes?”

“Ofcourse,I said yes, you idiot! You deserve it. You deserve him. You deserve to behappy.”

My mouth wobbles. “I didn’t want you to think I was abandoning you…”

There's a pause. Then she says, “Oh my God, are youkidding me? First of all, I’m moving in with friends next week. I was honestly thrilled to be rid of you. I had a whole celebratory snack drawer planned.”

That actually makes me laugh through my tears.

“And second,” she continues, her voice softening, “you’re not abandoning me. You saved me. And now it’s your turn. Youdon’thave to put your joy on pause just so I don’t feel alone. I’m not alone anymore. Not really. You made sure of that.”

I close my eyes, whisper, “I said no because I didn’t want you to be lonely.”

She sighs, and I can practically hear the eye roll. “Well, congrats, dumbass. Nowyou’reboth lonely.”

I swallow hard.

Yeah. We are. But not for long.

Because I already know what I need to do.

I run like my life depends on, and slam my palm against the elevator button. Maybe he’s still in the building. Maybe I can catch him before he vanishes into the night like some tragically beautiful heartbroken CEO ghost.

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