“I think I know where we’re going, but just in case I’ve got it wrong, feel free to elaborate.”
I didn’t realise I had got in the car with James and taken off without having explained anything.
The poor man didn’t have the nerve to ask until we were over twenty minutes into the morning traffic. Neither one of us had to deal with morning traffic ever since moving into my dining room office.
This little taste of the real world reminded us how much we loved our decision.
“You know we’re going to Douglas’ office. I have the gift in my bag.”
“So you’re returning your birthday paperweight, are you?”
I nodded whilst coming to another red light.
“I am. It’s not a gift for me. It’s not a gift for a girlfriend. It’s a gift his secretary picked out to give me. It’s a gift to make him look good when he’s been a complete asshole.”
I bit my lip.
I didn’t want anyone to know that I was struggling with this. I’ve never been a fan of letting frustration show after my best friend from high school dumped me for being too problematic.
It was now my mission to keep the drama to myself.
And this is what this was. It was drama. It was a six-month-old relationship coming to a natural end, albeit in a somewhat ugly way.
But this could all be worse.
Douglas and I could be married, have kids, or even be in love. We never said it to each other and probably for the best. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway.
At thirty-five, I vowed not to get hung up on relationships like these ones.
“You don’t think his secretary, what’s her name, bought it for you?”
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