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Nathan froze mid-chair-pull,staring expectantly.
“But I won’t meet your family.During holidays,you go alone.They have no right to interfere in my life. And if we have kids, they’ll take my surname. Those are non - negotiable terms.”
He sat,half-joyed,half-worried.“Understood.”
“If it’s too much fro you,just forget I said anything.”
He grinned.“No way.Say it again—I’m recording this.Someone’s agreeing to marry me and have my kids.”
I didn’t know where things with Nathan would go,but I was fine either way.Live in the moment.
Nathan disliked my nonchalance.“With your ex,you planned forever.”
“Wanna be my ex too?”
“Give me a chance to be your husband,and I’ll make sure you never want to turn me into an ex!”
Oh.
My birthday fell on a weekend.I told Nathan not to plan any surprises—I just wanted to sleep in.
At 10 a.m.,I shuffled out of the bedroom.He was brazenly on my phone,a sealed package on the coffee table.
“Your ex sent you a birthday gift.”He tapped the box,dripping sarcasm.
I had a stack of unopened packages, and this one must have gotten mixed in.
Paul messaged,wishing me a happy birthday,asking if I received the gift and liked it.
Nathan saw it.
I grabbed my phone back,laughing.
He’d replied as me:[Thanks,but no more gifts.My boyfriend gets jealous.]
He added his contact information,telling Paul to reach out to him if there was anything.
The gift was a set of ceramic cups,each a different size.
I love collecting pretty cups and even have a special cabinet for them. Last year, Paul had given me cups as a gift too.
But this set,he made them with Sarah,saying they were originally meant as a New Year’s gift for his mother.Sarah laughed,saying she’d love it.
Nathan,who watched their videos,recognized them.“Your ex knows how to disgust people.”
I inspected them,placing them in the cabinet.
“You’re actually keeping them?”he asked,baffled.
“They’re nice.And they’re perfect for annoying you.”
He snatched them,stuffed them back in the box,and tossed it outside.
“Phone.”
I laughed.Little Nate’s bold today.
He blocked Sarah’s account.
“No more watching!”
Fine,toss them,block her.
Stalking my ex’s love life is dull.
At Christmas,I visited Mrs.Carter.She learned about Sarah and kicked Paul out.
“It’s my fault.I shouldn’t have…”she cried.
I smiled.“How’s it your fault?It was my choice.”
I couldn’t bring myself to say“loved.”
Who could’ve predicted what followed?
Downstairs,I saw Paul,tanner than last time.
He asked to dine with me and my boyfriend.I declined.
“Emma,I hope you’re happy.”
Thanks,but I don’t need your hopes.
