Reunion Is Difficult

Amanda Gordon, my girlfriend, could never get quantities right. She always purchased one extra of everything. On our dates, she always ordered for three. “Oops, I ordered too much. Why don’t we invite Kevin too?” On my birthday, she bought two gifts. “Oops, I bought one too many. Why don’t we give it to Kevin?” After a while, I grew used to it and simply accepted that as my new normal. On the day of our wedding attire fitting, Amanda suddenly reached out and stopped me. “Leigh, the suit I designed for you is over there. This one is for the best man. I had it made for Kevin.” I looked up at the best man’s suit in front of me. It was sharply tailored, with clean, structured lines and tiny silver crystals set into the collar. The groom’s suit she had left for me, meanwhile, was plain, wrinkled, and stained. I finally decided to leave her at that moment. She had given the only bespoke suit she could commission to Kevin Burg. There was nothing left in this relationship worth holding on to. I quietly looked at my phone and sent a message to my former professor, Lawrence Hindle, who lived far away in Westmere. [Dr. Hindle, does your institute still have an opening for me?] Chapter 1 When Amanda Gordon realized I was upset, her expression darkened. “Kevin has been your best friend for ten years. You wouldn’t deny him the role of best man, would you?” “I’m sorry, Leigh. I don’t know what I did to upset you.” Kevin Burg made a grand, magnanimous gesture. “But if it bothers you, you can have the best man’s suit.” With that, he set aside the bespoke suit and retreated to the corner of the couch, where he sat sulking by himself. Amanda frowned and shot me a cold glance. Without hesitation, she hurried over to comfort him. “Kevin, that suit was made especially for you. I spent three whole months on it and attached every crystal by hand. How could you just refuse to wear it?” “Exactly!” the new sales associate chimed in, unable to stay silent any longer. “Ms. Gordon designed this suit especially for you. From the initial sketches to the final tailoring, she spent nearly six months on it. Mr. Emerson, Ms. Gordon clearly loves you very much. Please don’t get upset with her.” I froze for a moment. The new associate had apparently mistaken Kevin for me. She ignored Amanda’s warning look and continued enthusiastically. “Just look at the best man’s suit your friend got. It’s secondhand, wrinkled, and filthy. No one would take it for free. Compared to that, it’s obvious that you’re the man Ms. Gordon truly loves!” As soon as she said that, the entire room went dead silent. Sensing that something was off, the sales associate stepped forward and gave my shoulder a solemn pat. “Don’t be upset. I was only telling the truth to make your friend feel better. It wouldn’t look good if the groom was in a bad mood. As his best man, surely you can be the bigger person here.” I smiled bitterly. “But I’m the groom.” The sales associate froze. Once she realized the magnitude of her mistake, she turned to Amanda with a terrified expression. Amanda waved her hand with impatience and dismissed her. “Don’t listen to the new hire’s nonsense. I personally chose that suit for you. The creases aren’t a sign of wear. They’re part of my exclusive design.” I ignored her and sent another message. [Dr. Hindle, the earliest flight I can get leaves tomorrow night. Can I come see you?] “Did you hear what I just said?” Amanda’s last shred of patience disappeared. She stepped forward and snatched my phone out of my hand. Then, she coldly tossed it onto the far end of the couch. “Leigh, will you grow up? Every time you get upset, you give me the silent treatment. How are you supposed to be a good husband like this?” Looking at the cold expression on her face, I scoffed. Me, giving her the silent treatment? After every argument, Amanda was always the one who disappeared. She ignored my texts and refused to answer my calls. Then, a few days later, she would reappear as though nothing had happened and ask, “What are we having for dinner today?” “If you think I would make such a terrible husband, you should marry Kevin then.” With that, I turned to leave. However, Kevin stepped in front of me before I could. He furrowed his brow. His eyes were moist as he put on a wounded expression. “Leigh, you’ve really misunderstood us. There’s absolutely nothing going on between Amanda and me. That sales associate was talking nonsense. Your suit is the bespoke one.” I looked Kevin up and down. He had a Hermes necklace, a Louis Vuitton crossbody bag, and limited-edition sneakers on. Not one of them was something an intern making barely two thousand dollars a month could afford. My gaze drifted toward Amanda. I caught the unmistakable glimmer of affection and indulgence in her eyes. A sharp pain pierced my chest. We had been together for seven years, yet the most expensive gift she had ever given me was a thirty-dollar electric razor. Chapter 2 “Let him go! If he doesn’t learn to rein in that temper, it’s going to cost him one day.” Amanda waved dismissively and went back to helping Kevin try on the suit. She had completely forgotten that I was her groom. “Amanda, don’t blame Leigh. He’s been overwhelmed with wedding preparations lately. He didn’t mean to throw a tantrum. Besides, it’s pouring outside. You can’t send your groom out there and let him get soaked.” Kevin sounded as though he were defending me, but he never once stopped trying on the suit. The rain outside grew heavier by the minute. Amanda knew full well that I had come to this remote suburb in her car and had no way to get back on my own. Still, she said, “A good soaking will teach him a lesson. I’ve spoiled him so much that he thinks he can get away with anything. Now, he’s even jealous of his best friend.” After hearing that, I stopped hesitating and walked out into the pouring rain. Fifteen minutes later, Kevin posted an update on social media. [Riding in Ms. Gordon’s Rolls-Royce Wraith again. Didn’t get a drop of rain on me. What a shame.] I knew that car’s interior all too well. Countless times, my best friend had been the one sitting beside Amanda in the passenger seat. I had never thought anything of it. I used to think I was lucky that my girlfriend and best friend got along so well. But every time I gave them the benefit of the doubt, they only pushed the boundaries further. This time, I neither liked his post nor left a comment. After walking through the pouring rain for nearly an hour, I finally made it home. Before I could change out of my soaked, ice-cold clothes, I received a text from Amanda. [Why aren’t you here yet? You’re taking forever. Kevin and I are going to start eating without you.] I finally recalled that the three of us had agreed to have dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant after the fitting. [Hurry up. You always keep us waiting.] It was not the first time something like this had happened. Whenever we made plans to go to dinner together, Kevin always caught a ride with Amanda, so they inevitably arrived first. Meanwhile, I had to travel alone from my office, which was nearly ten miles away. By the time I finally arrived, they would already be halfway through dinner. The meal they had ordered for me would have gone cold. Amanda never showed the slightest concern for how that made me feel. [Kevin has a sensitive stomach, so we just started without you. If you’re going to sit there sulking, we won’t bother saving your food next time.] Normally, such a message would leave me quietly crushed. However, I was too proud to admit that I was hurt. I would simply sit down in silence and eat the cold meal they had saved for me. This time, however, I calmly locked my phone. I did not send her a reply. I would not be showing up to that wedding. Kevin could have the bride and the wedding all to himself. Past midnight, Amanda was still not home. I lay curled up in bed beneath three blankets, yet I could not stop shivering. Unable to bear it any longer, I called her in a hoarse voice and asked her to pick up some cold medicine on her way home. There were a few seconds of silence before she replied coldly, “The fact that you’re still talking to me on the phone now means your condition isn’t that bad. You’re just trying to trick me into coming home.” Loud music and cheerful voices filled the background. Wherever she was, the party was clearly in full swing. Kevin suddenly took the phone from her and began explaining in a slightly drunken voice, “Don’t worry, buddy. Amanda’s with me. I’ll keep an eye on her and make sure no other guys get near her.” As though worried I would not believe him, he even sent me a photo. In the picture, several fresh hickeys stood out on Amanda’s neck. “Relax, buddy. I already made sure everyone knows she’s taken. You can check the marks yourself when she gets home. I only did this for you. You’re not going to be mad about it, are you?” I smiled bitterly and shook my head. “Not at all.” After ending the call, I forced myself out of bed and packed up all my belongings. Just as I put the last piece of clothing in the suitcase, a message arrived from overseas. Lawrence’s reply was brief. [Yes. Come as soon as you can.] Seeing that, I booked the earliest flight available. Chapter 3 My head was foggy and heavy as I drifted in and out of sleep. When I finally managed to fall asleep again, a furious scream jolted me awake. “Leigh, what is the meaning of this?” Amanda yanked me out of bed and dragged me into the living room. Pointing at my suitcase, she demanded answers. “Why did you pack your bags? Where are you going? You do know we’re getting married next week, right? What are you trying to pull now?” I fell silent for a moment before saying, “It means exactly what it looks like, Amanda. We’re done.” She acted as though she had not heard me. Her voice barely contained her fury. “Kevin remembered you wanting to try that restaurant. Since you didn’t show up, he specifically asked me to bring food back for you. Here you are, pretending to be sick and packing your bags. What, are you trying to squeeze more money out of me before the wedding?” I frowned. “Amanda, have you lost your mind?” “That’s exactly what you’re doing,” Amanda said coldly. “Kevin told me your family originally expected me to put a hundred and twenty thousand dollars in your name before the wedding. He had to talk them down to twelve thousand. Leigh, I may be rich, but I’m not stupid. With a hundred and twenty thousand dollars, I could find someone far more handsome and successful than you. Why would I settle for you?” My lips curled into a sneer as my body trembled with rage. “Do you think I’m after your money? In all these years, everything you’ve ever given me combined is worth less than a pair of Kevin’s sneakers. I still stayed. Do you honestly think money is what I wanted from you?” She turned her head away and replied coldly, “There you go, keeping score again. Do you still claim to not care about money?” At that moment, I let out a bitter, incredulous laugh. I could only blame myself. I had loved Amanda so desperately that I had given her chance after chance to hurt me. “Enough, Amanda. We’re done.” With that, I grabbed my suitcase and strode out. I could not tell whether she had not heard me end things, or whether she had simply grown used to dismissing every breakup attempt as just another part of my silent treatment. None of that mattered any longer. I was done with her. That afternoon, while I was at the mall buying supplies to take with me to Westmere, I turned a corner and ran into Amanda and Kevin. Kevin was pushing the shopping cart while Amanda walked beside him with her arm linked through his. The sight of them startled me so badly that I accidentally knocked over a display of gift soaps. The entire display collapsed with a loud crash, sending bars of soap scattering across the floor. The moment they saw me, they sprang apart as if they were shocked. “Leigh, don’t get the wrong idea. Amanda just wanted me to pick up some things for the wedding with her.” As Kevin hurried to explain, he pointed to the wedding favor bags and new set of bed linens in their cart. “Why are you bothering to explain yourself to him? He’s being ridiculously petty. It was only a suit. How long is he going to keep sulking over it?” With that, Amanda defiantly took Kevin’s hand and brazenly walked with him toward the checkout. As I watched them walk away together, it felt as though someone had stabbed me deep in my heart. I had repeatedly told her that there was too much wedding shopping for me to handle alone and asked her to shop with me. She had refused every time. She would even berate me for it. “I make hundreds of dollars an hour. Do you expect me to waste my time shopping with you? Are you an idiot?” In spite of that, she had somehow found the time to go shopping with Kevin for the things we needed for our wedding. When I walked out of the mall, I saw that Kevin had thoughtfully loaded everything into the trunk. He slipped naturally into the driver’s seat, rolled down the window, and waved at me. “Leigh, get in. Wherever you’re going, we’ll give you a ride.” When I remained where I was, a look of realization dawned on his face. “Oh, didn’t you know about this new car that Amanda bought for me? Sorry about that. Since I drive her around all the time, she gave it to me as a reward. Don’t be jealous.” Amanda rolled her eyes at me. “If he doesn’t want a ride, let him be. I’m not going to coddle him. He’s a grown man, yet he sulks over everything like a jealous little boy.” With that, the engine roared to life and the car sped off. A cloud of exhaust fumes washed over me. Chapter 4 Two hours later, I arrived at the international airport. I was about to walk to the departure lounge when I received a message from Amanda’s mother, Rebecca Gordon. [Leigh, where are you? Let’s have dinner.] I typed and deleted several replies. I hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing. Since I had decided to call off the wedding, I owed both families an explanation. After all, Amanda and I had been together for seven years. Her mother had always treated me reasonably well. I only realized this was not a friendly dinner when I entered the private dining room. It was an ambush. Amanda and Kevin sat together in the seats of honor with her arm linked through his, while they had left me a seat across from them. “Leigh, you made it.” Rebecca stood up to welcome me, but Amanda merely curled her lip in disdain. “Mom, you worry too much. I already told you Leigh would never leave me. He loves me too much. Why did you even bother setting up this apology dinner?” Rebecca cleared her throat awkwardly. Her expression darkened. Amanda acted as though she had not noticed. She picked up the menu and tossed it in front of me. “Go ahead and order, Your Highness. Just so we’re clear, Mom made me come. I’m not here because I wanted to be.” I pressed my lips together and looked into the eyes that had once captivated me. At that moment, I felt nothing at all. There had been a time when she would cling to my arm with genuine affection and sweetly ask what I wanted to eat. The slightest furrow of my brow would have her asking whether I disliked the food or whether the room was too cold. All that tenderness had been diverted to my best friend. “It’s fine, Rebecca. I appreciate the thought, but Amanda and I have broken up,” I uttered the words deliberately and clearly. At that, everyone’s expression changed. A flicker of panic crossed Amanda’s face, but it was quickly replaced by contempt. “Kevin was right. You’re only doing this because you want to squeeze more money out of me when the wedding’s around the corner. You’ve been reading too much of that relationship nonsense online. Do you really think throwing a tantrum would make me pay you more? Dream on!” Kevin looked at me with an embarrassed, innocent expression and shook his head. “Leigh, I swear I never said anything like that.” As he spoke, he got up and walked toward me. Then, he suddenly grabbed my hand and began striking himself on the head with it. “Just punish me instead! Please don’t call off the wedding! I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone shopping with Amanda!” I frowned and desperately tried to pull my hand free. Somehow, a large welt suddenly appeared on his forehead, followed by a horrifying stream of blood. “Ow!” His piercing scream tore through the room. “How is my head bleeding?” Amanda shoved me aside like a woman possessed and rushed to examine Kevin’s injury. Before leaving, she turned back and hurled one final threat at me. “You’ve gone too far, Leigh! Let’s see what you’ll do when I don’t show up at the wedding!” I shook my head in resignation. I picked up my bag and looked at Rebecca. “Rebecca, thanks for being so nice to me for the past seven years. Goodbye.” Rebecca looked as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent. To comfort the wounded Kevin, Amanda remained by his side at the hospital for five straight days. On the sixth day, her maid of honor, Tina Potter, sent her a reminder. [Amanda, shouldn’t you be getting into your wedding dress? The ceremony was supposed to start hours ago. Leigh must be losing his mind waiting at the altar.] Only then did Amanda seem to remember that she was getting married. She replied without the slightest urgency. [Let him wait. That’s what he gets for having the nerve to hurt Kevin.] An hour later, she finally emerged in full bridal attire. She was holding the expensive custom bouquet I had given her with her chin raised haughtily. “Okay. Tell Leigh I’m ready. We can start the ceremony now.” Tina came back in from the hallway, looking visibly uneasy. She hesitantly said, “Amanda, no one’s waiting at the altar. It looks like Leigh never showed up for the wedding.”