Page 132 of Keep My Heart
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ He tries to go past me to the door, but I stand in front of it. ‘Lyndsay, get out of the way. I’m serious.’
‘So am I. Tell me why you did it. Because you don’t want me to be happy, or don’t want me being happy with Nick?’
‘What the fuck are you talking about?’
‘Just tell her so we can go,’ the girl says, rolling her eyes.
‘Shut the fuck up!’ he says to her.
She shoves away from him. ‘You can’t talk to me that way!’
‘Just admit it,’ I say to Chris. ‘You told this girl to call me and pretend to be Iris, who, by the way, is not Nick’s girlfriend.’
‘Yeah, that’s why he called her and said all that shit,’ he huffs. ‘Are you really that stupid?’
‘I was when I married you.’ I step up to him. ‘But I’m not now. I know Nick wouldn’t cheat on me. I don’t know who Iris is, but she’s not his girlfriend. And having some girl call me up pretending to be Iris so I won’t go out with Nick just tells me you’re not over me.’
‘Yeah, right.’ He rolls his eyes. ‘Like I really want you back.’
‘It’s over, Chris. I don’t want to see you or talk to you anymore. If your stuff’s not out of here by tomorrow, I’m throwing it out.’
‘You do, and I’ll call the cops. I gave you the fuckingapartment and most of the furniture. The least you could do is give me time to get my stuff.’
I glance around the apartment, realizing everything here reminds me of him and our life together. I don’t need that reminder. I want a fresh start.
‘You really want it?’ I look at Chris. ‘You can have it. You can have the apartment too. I’m leaving. I’m moving back home.’
‘Are you serious?’ He laughs. ‘You really want to go back to that shitty town?’
‘I like Haydon Falls. I always have. I never wanted to leave. I only did because of you, because I wanted to make you happy. But now I’m making myself happy and going back to where I wanted to be all along. My flight leaves in the morning. I’ll take what I want. The rest is yours.’ I open the door. ‘Bye, Chris. Have a nice life.’
He’s looking at me like he’s trying to figure out if I’m serious or just said that out of anger.
‘Let’s go,’ the girl says, tugging on him. ‘What are you waiting for?’
Chris keeps his eyes on me as he leaves, like he doesn’t really believe this is goodbye. But it is. I don’t want to be here anymore. I have no reason to stay. This isn’t my home. It’s not where I want to be.
I shut and lock the door, then call up my mom.
‘Lyndsay, did you hear about Carl?’
‘Yeah. I’m coming home tomorrow to be with Nick.’
‘That’s good, honey. He needs you right now. Do you need help paying for the flight?’
‘No, I’m good. Hey, Mom, is it okay if I stay with you for a few months?’
‘Of course. But why? Did something happen?’
‘I decided LA just isn’t for me. I want to move back home for a while and figure out what to do next.’
‘That’s wonderful! I’d love to have you here. But what about Nick? You two will be so far apart.’
‘I don’t know yet. We’ll work it out.’ I’m not going to tell her what’s going on with Nick and me. I want to talk to him first. ‘Mom, I need to go pack. Can you get me at the airport tomorrow?’
‘Yes, of course. Just tell me what time.’
‘I’ll text it to you. See you tomorrow.’
