They didn’t come running with apologies or excuses. They didn’t try to plead with me or ask me to fix it.
Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was shock. Maybe they still didn’t believe I’d actually go through with it.
But I stayed in that car, watching the drama unfold like a show I’d seen before. Except this time, I wasn’t cast as the quiet background character.
I was the twist no one saw coming.
That’s when my phone buzzed.
A message from Lily.
“Was it really you? Please tell me you didn’t cancel the payment. This is a disaster.”
I stared at the screen for a long moment, then typed a single word back.
“Yes.”
And hit send.
Five minutes passed. Then 10.
More arguing.
I could see Camille on the phone trying to call someone. Her husband, maybe someone to wire money.
My mom sat on a lawn chair, arms folded, looking like a balloon with all the air let out.
For the first time in my life, she looked small.
Then finally, someone broke from the chaos and walked straight toward me.
It wasn’t who I expected, and it definitely wasn’t to apologize.
It was Liam.
Out of all the people who could have come over, he was the last I expected.
He walked with that same overly confident strut he’d had since high school. But this time, it was slower, more measured. He was trying to keep up the act, but the cracks were visible.
I watched him approach in the rear-view mirror, debating whether to step out or let him talk through the window like some panicked solicitor.
I rolled down the window before he had to knock.
“What’s up, Liam?”
He leaned on the car door, arms crossed. “You really pulled the plug on the whole thing?”