Easton was so stunned that he dropped his e–cigarette on the floor. “He’s the Gavin
Hackett you were talking about?”
I didn’t respond. I simply reached out my hand and placed it gently in Gavin’s.
As I stepped onto the stage, I glanced back one last time at the crowd below.
Easton still hadn’t recovered. He stood there stiff and motionless, his eyes bloodshot
beneath the shadow that fell over him.
I suddenly remembered something.
There was a time when Easton called me to write a research paper for Tina.
I had just taken an overnight train and was completely exhausted.
He met me at the station, shoved a stack of papers into my hands, and said coldly, “You have two days. Finish it by then.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away.
I holed up in a cheap motel outside their college and pulled two all–nighters.
When I finally finished just as dawn broke on Monday, I was nearly dead on my feet.
Easton only said I’d done a good job, and that alone made me forget how tired I was. I felt like I’d just won a prize.
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Chapter 3
I hadn’t even boarded the return train when Easton showed up again.
+25 Bonus
He looked completely defeated, puffing clouds of smoke, his voice hoarse as he muttered,
“Turns out the paper wasn’t even for her. She needed it for her new boyfriend. Once again, I did all the work, and another man reaped the benefits.”
I was about to comfort him when he suddenly hugged me.
“Wanda, I’m so sick of chasing after Tina like a fool. You’re the only one who truly cares about me. Why don’t we be together?”
My heart pounded wildly. I thought my years of devotion were finally paying off.
But before I could say yes, his phone rang.
He pulled away immediately.
On the other end came a sickly sweet voice. One I knew instantly belonged to Tina.
When the call ended, Easton turned to me, his gloom completely gone. “Tina broke up with her boyfriend again. I was just joking earlier. Don’t take it seriously, Wanda. We’re still just
friends.”
The warmth of his embrace hadn’t even faded, and he was already gone.
Back then, I thought I’d wait for him forever.
But after 15 years of being played for a fool, I finally had enough.
Now, I was marrying someone else.
I turned to look at the man beside me. In his eyes, I saw only myself.
The emcee beamed and asked loudly, “Mr. Hackett, do you take Ms. Moore to be your wife, to love and cherish her, for as long as you both shall live?”
Without hesitation, Gavin answered, “I do.”
The sudden rush of joy was overwhelming. It wasn’t until the emcee asked me again that I
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finally nodded.
“Very well, then this ceremony is officially…”
ויי
object!”
Not interesting at all
