Page 99 of Forever Fighting
“Yes. But I also sent him some places for Paris even though that’s six months after Germany. The sooner we get these locked up the better. London is still in flux a bit for housing, but it’ll come together. Are you leaving the hospital permanently or just taking a leave of absence?”
“Wait.” I sit up, rubbing my eyes, positive I’m missing something vital. “Are you telling me Roman is moving to Europe? To Frankfurt, Paris, and London?”
She’s silent for a very long beat. “Um. Well. I’m not sure?—”
“Katie. Please.”
“Braelyn, I can’t give you the specifics. I’m so sorry. I thought you knew. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have said anything. It’s my fault. Completely.”
I would laugh at that if there were anything remotely funny about it. “It’s not your fault he didn’t tell me he’s moving to Europe. It’s his. I’ll have him call you and I’ll make sure he picks a place and signs the contract on it ASAP.”
“Uh, okay. I’m sorry.”
“Really. It’s fine.” I disconnect the call because it’s not fine. Not at all. I told Roman I loved him last night. I moved myself into his room. I’m in his fucking bed. I’m married to him. I mean, technically, we’re married.
But he didn’t tell me he’s moving to Europe. To Germany, France, and the UK.
All this time we’ve spent together over the last week. Endless hours and limitless conversations and he didn’t mention it. Not even a hint.
I can’t wrap my head around that. The betrayal of it. He’s telling me he’s fighting for me, for us all the while he’s planning a completely different life and future that doesn’t include me.
What am I supposed to do with that?
Other than leave.
I need to go. I’ve had it with men lying. With men hiding things from me. With men who I thought I could trust with anything betraying that and disappointing me. Wow. I never saw Adam cheating on me coming and I never ever saw Roman offering me forever, only for it to be a lie.
What did he expect? Me to leave my job and move with him? He had to know that would never happen. Not that he asked me to.
A tear hits my cheek, followed by another. All I can do is sit here, staring at my hands. I’m pulverized by this. All the things he said last night. I told him I loved him! It felt like everything was finally coming together. That we fit in place. I couldn’t help but fall for him. He made it effortless despite everything I’d been through and now this.
I force myself up and use the bathroom before I go into the closet to get dressed. I’m on autopilot even as my tears won’t stop. They won’t slow. I keep trying to rationalize this, but there is no explanation. Every step feels like I have lead in my feet.My limbs are heavy and my heart is so broken I don’t think it’ll ever be able to heal.
I gasp out a sob, my shoes in my hand. I can’t do this again. I don’t know how to do this. Not with Roman. That’s not who we are to each other. We don’t lie. We don’t hide things. We don’t betray.
But that’s what he did, and nothing makes sense to me anymore.
I’ll put on my shoes, grab my purse, and go, though I don’t know where my phone is. He must have grabbed mine this morning thinking it was his. But I’ll find it and I’ll leave.
Exiting the closet, I stop short when I see Roman walking in, his eyes on the phone in his hand, which is clearly my phone.
“Hey. You’re up. Good. I grabbed your phone by accident and Sky called.”
I chuck one of the shoes in my hand at him, the sneaker rotating end over end as it sails through the air. Unfortunately, he sees it coming and ducks to the side with his annoying catlike reflexes. Ugh.
“What the hell?”
“What the hell?!” I fire back indignantly. “Are you kidding me? You’re moving to fucking Europe, and you didn’t tell me and you have the nerve to ask me what the hell?!” I chuck my other shoe at him and thankfully, this time he doesn’t duck. It nails him straight in the chest, except it’s not nearly as dramatic as I was hoping. It simply hits him and drops to the floor.
Boo.
“How did you find out?”
“That’s another good one. How did I find out?! You son of a bitch, I should have found out from you!” I point at him. “Katie called and I thought it was my phone and my Katy, so I picked up. Oh, she wanted me to mention that you really need to geton picking a place in Frankfurt. You know, because you’re moving there so soon!”
He holds his hands out defensively to me like I’m a cornered animal. “It’s not what it seems.”
“Not what it seems?” My arms flail about me. “Please tell me you didn’t just say that.”
