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Turning back, they made sure I wasn’t angry and I saw the relief on their faces.
Ethan stepped closer, taking my hand.
“Don’t bother packing. It’s too much. I’ll send the family driver; we’ll move your things to the new place together.”
Mason nodded in agreement.
For a moment, I saw a flicker of the old Ethan and Mason, the ones whose world revolved around me.
We were young once, carefree and happy.
Now, youthful promises were just empty words.
My gaze drifted to Qiana.
I shook my head.”No, thank you. I need to pack myself.”
Ignoring their expressions, I turned and left.
Back home, I packed, showered, and just as I was settling into bed, Qiana called.
Her voice was smug.
“Lanie, I went to Ethan and Mason’s family homes tonight. Their parents were so nice to me.”
“They even gave me family heirlooms. Don’t you think they…”
I interrupted her calmly.
“I’m not interested in your life. Don’t tell me this. It’s none of my business.”
I hung up.
The day before my departure, I met my best friend, Tiffany, for dinner.
I didn’t have many friends in LA.
Ethan and Mason had strictly controlled my social life from childhood, forbidding boyfriends, intercepting love letters, even interfering in my friendships with girls.
They’d whined then, “Lanie, isn’t it enough that you have us as your friends? You’re so amazing, other girls might like
you,
too.”
Their possessiveness was suffocating; they wanted me to only see them.
And now, they were the ones pushing me away.
Tiffany was already waiting at a new restaurant.
Seeing me, she rushed into a hug.
The thought of my leaving brought a fresh wave of sadness.
“Lanie, I can’t believe you’re leaving for Miami to get married. I’m going to miss you.””I thought you’d end up marrying Ethan or Mason and staying in LA. Then we could hang out all the time.”
I smiled faintly. “They had other choices. So did I.”
Tiffany’s face fell.
Remembering Qiana, her expression soured.
“You were so nice to that Qiana girl, and yet…”
I interrupted, laughing.
“Forget about her. Once I’m married, I won’t have to deal with her anymore. Whatever she does won’t affect me.”
As I finished speaking, Qiana walked into the restaurant.
Our table was near the entrance.
She’d overheard part of our conversation.
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She approached curiously. “Lanie, who’s getting married? Can I go? I’ve never been to a wedding!”
I was rarely confronted with someone so lacking in boundaries, but perhaps I’d grown accustomed to Qiana’s antics, and knowing I was leaving soon, I remained calm.
Tiffany, however, was furious.
She tossed her silverware onto the table, glaring at Qiana.
“My wedding! You’re not invited! Are you happy now?”
“Do you even have any boundaries? Are we close? Do you try every roadside food truck just to see if it tastes good?”
Tiffany’s voice was loud and cutting.
Qiana visibly flinched, appearing terrified.
Tears welled in her eyes.”
She looked to Ethan and Mason, who’d just entered the restaurant, her eyes pleading for help.
Ethan, unaware of the context, saw Qiana’s distress and immediately pulled her into his arms.
“I’m here for you. If you want to go, you can go to any wedding you want.”
Mason chimed in.”And me! Forget weddings. You want the moon? I’ll climb a ladder to get it for you. Don’t worry about those people.”
Between them, they managed to coax a smile from Qiana.
