Page 50 of The Forever Formula
That’s when I heard the sound of someone moving around in the kitchen. Could it be Noah? He’d at least have knocked, but maybe not.
My heart leaped at the thought, and I sprinted out to see him.
But it wasn’t Noah.
In fact, it was the last person on earth I cared to see just then.
It was Roger.
“What ... where ... why ...” I stammered in disbelief, shaking my head. I was in a state of utter shock to see him. I needed to sit down.
“Hey, babe,” he said innocently, as if nothing had happened.
As if we hadn’t called off the wedding weeks ago. As if I hadn’t been job and apartment hunting just before I left, my stuff packed up and stacked in a corner of his house.
“Why are you here?” I said through clenched teeth. My words were in no way welcoming, but that didn’t seem to bother him.
He smiled. “To see you, of course. Your grandfather died.”
“I know that.” I frowned. “I released his ashes two weeks ago.”
Roger’s face was unsettling. Seeing him reminded me of every way he’d let me down. I walked like a trapped animal, slowly sizing him up.
All he said in reply was, “That’s a shame.” Then he launched into a story about himself. “Listen, I have great news that will cheer you up. My boss has offered me the lead of a new team in Milwaukee.”
“Congratulations. But you shouldn’t be here. You need to leave,” I said calmly.
He shook his head, taking two steps closer to me. “Listen, babe.” I cringed at the nickname. “Now that we’ve had time to think, I’m sure we both see how we were just getting cold feet, is all. It’s perfectly normal.”
“I don’t have cold feet,” I said, seething.
“Listen, listen. I need you, okay? I need you with me in Milwaukee.” In an instant, he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me.
My arms stayed at my sides, and I struggled to get free of him.
“Get off of me!” I barked out the words, and he stepped back.
Then I heard a knock at the front door, and my stomach sank. What if it was Noah coming by after work to surprise me? What would he think about my visitor?
I rushed to the door, and my heart tightened. As I pulled it open, a white envelope fluttered to the floor, and I saw Noah’s truck driving away.
I turned back to Roger, my emotions raw and raging. “Leave. Now. I will not ask again. We’re done, Roger. I don’t want you here. Go.”
My shoulders rose and fell with each breath.
“Now!” I shouted for emphasis when he didn’t move.
Finally, that seemed to motivate him, and he frowned, crossing the floor.
“I’d always known you were a coldhearted bitch. You can’t even take an apology right. Good luck to you. I’ll find a woman ten times better.”
“Good luck with that,” I said with a sneer, following him to the door. Seeing the back of Roger was the only good thing about that whole encounter.
After he drove away, I reached down and picked up the envelope.
I’d have some explaining to do, but Noah was levelheaded, I hoped. Surely, he’d understand that Roger showing up here wasnotpart of my plan.
After opening the flap, I pulled out the papers and squinted as I tried to make sense of them. It couldn’t be. Not this again.
