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I turned around, and went back to the living room with my belongings in my arms. Caleb reached for my things, but I refused his help.

“Aaliyah told me you found a place,” he said.

“Of course she did,” I muttered. I’d asked Liy to help me find an apartment while I was away, and felt relieved when she called to say she’d found a place. It was in SoHo, and when I heard what the rent would be every month, I couldn’t believe my luck. I could actually afford it, and still be able to save some money every month. It was a win-win. At least that’s what I told myself.

“Do you need any help settling in?”

Not from you.

Caleb was stalling.

“I don’t have much,” I replied. “But thank you. And thank you for taking me in when I needed it.”

The air around us filled with an ice-cold silence that chilled me to the bone. When I was sure I had nothing left to say I headed towards the elevator. Caleb followed me, and stopped me by wrapping his hand around my arm.

“Kadence, I -”

“Don’t.” I looked at him. The anguish on his face matched my own, but it wasn’t enough to make me stay. “Please. I feel humiliated enough as it is.”

“I’m sorry,” he breathed, letting go of my arm.

“Me too,” I replied. “I’m sorry that I thought whatever we had could be real, and I’m sorry that I believed you’d changed. Not even our first date was real, Caleb, and the only fool in this situation was me.”

“Our first date was real,” he argued.

Once again I was made to look like the idiot.

“Photographs don’t lie.”

Caleb looked confused.

“No one else knew about that date,” I continued. “So it’s not hard to assume that it was you who had them taken. That tells me it was all for show.”

I waited for Caleb to deny it, to tell me I was wrong. He never did.

“That’s what I thought.” The elevator opened, and I hesitated before stepping in.

“I hope you find what you’re looking for,” I said quietly. “All I want is for you, and Braelynn to be happy, and I see now it’s not with me.”

“We’re not over.” Caleb was adamant, his hands fisted at his side.

“We are, Caleb. There are no happy-ever-after’s when you play pretend.”

The doors shut before Caleb could say anything more, and I clutched the box in my arms like it was a lifeline. I held it all the way to my new apartment, and the moment I let go, I cried.

FOR THE NEXT two days I did nothing but focus on work. I woke up, got dressed, went to work, stayed late, and came home. It was monotonous, and boring, but I found that having the structure kept my mind from going back to Caleb, and everything that happened. I avoided him at work, and the only time we spoke was when we had a meeting about the success of the launch party. Caleb praised me, and I replied with the courteous “Thank you Mr. Callahan,” but couldn’t look at him. If I did, it would have been more than I was ready to take on.

It was Thursday morning, and after another restless night, I was running on fumes. Macy was coming in today, so I walked to Macy’s in Herald Square during my lunch break and bought her a gift for her son. She was at the office when I got back, but when I stepped in front of her office door I hesitated. Voices – angry voices – came from the other side. From what I could tell Caleb was arguing with Macy and Aaliyah.

I told myself to walk away, and that listening in on a conversation that had nothing to do with me was unethical and unprofessional. That was until I heard my name.

“Caleb, you have to make things right with Kadence.” That was Macy.

I pressed my ear closer to the door.

“And tell Natalia to fuck off.” Aaliyah.

“It’s not that simple.” Caleb. “Kadence walked out on me.”