Page 137 of Almost Not Quite Engaged

“I ate a cake, cried a little, and walked away from Chad, a four-year relationship. I’m putting a continent between us to even begin to heal from this and it’s only been a month and a half.” I look at him. “But if it helps you to build that narrative, go right ahead.”

“You’re really leaving right now?” His voice cracks. And there he is. My Zane. The one underneath all the performance.

“That’s what you do when you break up.”

“Kat.” He reaches for me.

“No.” I shake him off.

“There’s something here.”

“I know there is.”

He takes my hand. “Something more special and more important than anything I’ll ever do. But maybe it’s not for now.”

A tear falls from his cheek. I snort a big sniffle and he smiles despite himself.

“It’s really not okay but⁠—”

He holds on a beat longer. “Three reasons to stay.” He speaks slowly, as if I’m going to get away. “One, you’ve ceased being a game for me. Two, Venice. Three, I believe I’m not good with anyone else.”

He lies to his family with the greatest of ease. Was this another con just to get me to stay? Will I stay because it’s easy and what everyone wants, or will I stay because I want to? I grab my hastily thrown together duffle and leave all my evil twin clothes. I shove his Breakers hat into my camera bag.

My voice catches as I remove the ring and place it in his hand. “1, 2 and 3. You. You’re all the reasons,” I say.

As I walk out the door his voice is wobbly. “Reasons you came to Boston.”

Then he clutches the ring and says, “I’ll hold onto this for us.”

“Hold onto something else. It was never about the ring.”

Chapter 72

Murky

KAT

Copenhagen

COURT: WTF is happening

GINNY: He’s not talking. And I guess neither are you.

ANNA: I don’t buy it. Is this fake too? I saw you together. I know it was real.

COURT: Mom is off the charts angry. You ok?

KAT: I am not ok. I don’t want to talk about it. I love you all. The conversation with the parents was the worst I’ve ever had. We simply said, we weren’t ready for this type of relationship and that’s all we’re saying. I’ll be back in a couple weeks. Be kind to him if you see him. It’s not his fault he’s a prick. He can’t help himself.

GINNY: Do better.

KAT: It won’t work. He wants to be someone I don’t want. And he thinks I’m settling for him because it’s what they would want. It’s an impossible situation while it’s all wrapped up in them.

I catch my breath and stop myself from crying again. I can’t and won’t. He told me to go. I get it. It’s not going to work.

ANNA: Bullshit. There’s always a way.

KAT: Not today Love you all See you later