Eventually Devon said, “I’m ending whatever this was.”
Darius almost laughed.
“You’re telling me like I’m supposed to thank you?”
“No.”
“Then why tell me?”
“Because I think she’s going to try to save things with you.”
Darius’s face hardened.
“That’s between me and her.”
“It is.”
“Stay out of it.”
“I will.”
Darius ended the call.
Nia stepped onto the balcony.
“What happened?”
Darius handed her the phone.
He looked exhausted.
“She didn’t just cheat.”
Nia waited.
“She built a second story.”
“What do you mean?”
“She told him I was basically her controlling ex.”
Nia’s eyes widened.
Darius laughed sadly.
“I didn’t know I had such an interesting life.”
His sister hugged him.
This time, Darius finally cried.
Not loudly.
He stood on the balcony while tears ran down his face, furious at himself for feeling embarrassed by them.
Nia held him tighter.
“You loved her.”
Darius nodded.
“That’s all this means.”
Three days passed before he returned home.
Simone was there.
Her eyes were swollen.
Suitcases sat near the staircase.
Darius entered quietly.
She stood.
“I packed.”
He nodded.
“I figured you wanted me gone.”
“Yes.”
The word hurt them both.
Simone looked down.
“I talked to Devon.”
Darius placed his keys on the counter.
“So did I.”
Her head snapped up.
“What?”
“He called me.”
Panic crossed her face.
“What did he say?”
Darius stared.
“That’s your first question?”
“I just…”
She stopped.
“What did he say?”
“Enough.”
Simone closed her eyes.
Darius continued.
“He thinks I’m controlling.”
“Darius.”
“He thinks I monitor you.”
“I was trying to explain why I couldn’t just leave.”
“So you made me abusive?”
“I never said abusive.”
“You said you were afraid of what I would do.”
“I meant emotionally.”
“That is not what he heard.”
“I know.”
Darius shook his head.
“You told him we were basically broken up.”
“I know.”
“You told him the wedding was postponed.”
Silence.
“You told him you were moving out.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you ever intend to?”
Simone began crying.
“I thought I did.”
Darius laughed bitterly.
“Then why were you ordering flowers with me last week?”
“I was confused.”
“You keep saying that like confusion is a medical emergency that controls your body.”
She looked down.
“I don’t have a better explanation.”
“Then try the ugly one.”
Simone looked at him.
Darius continued.
“You liked having both.”
Her face crumpled.
“Say it.”
“I loved you.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
She wiped her tears.
“I liked what we had.”
“And him?”
“He made me feel different.”
“Different how?”
“Wanted.”