Chapter 6: The Reunion

On the night of the reunion, it was 11:30 p.m.

The house was silent. I sat on the couch, staring at my phone, willing it to light up.

Caleb still hadn’t come home.

Every minute felt like an hour. I kept glancing at the clock, trying not to worry, trying not to imagine him with Rachel.

I hesitated over whether to text him, but his message arrived first.

The screen lit up with his name. My heart leapt and then settled when I saw the words.

[Drank too much, not safe to drive, I’ll stay at Derek’s bar tonight. Don’t wait up.]

I exhaled slowly, half relieved, half disappointed. It was so typical of Caleb—always responsible, always thinking ahead.

On a whim, I asked Derek for the address, planning to pick up Caleb and surprise him.

It felt impulsive, but I needed to see him. I needed to know for myself.

Unfortunately, my brother had flown to Paris on a business trip last week.

Otherwise, I could have quietly asked him for more details.

I missed having him around—his easy laughter, the way he always had my back.

I guessed the usual time the gatherings ended, then drove to Derek’s new bar.

The city lights blurred by as I gripped the steering wheel, nerves buzzing. The bar was tucked between a taqueria and a used bookstore, the neon sign flickering in the drizzle. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of spilled beer and old leather booths.

After searching around, just as I was about to call Derek, my eyes caught a familiar figure.

Even from across the room, I’d know Caleb anywhere. He stood out, even in a crowd.

Under the dim lights, Caleb leaned against the bar, his back straight, long fingers idly swirling a glass of whiskey.

He looked every bit the leading man—tall, self-assured, a quiet intensity radiating from him. I felt the old flutter in my chest.

His elegance and confidence were unmistakable.

He wore his suit like armor, but I knew the softness underneath.

I smiled, watching him for a long moment before walking over.

I wanted to memorize the way he looked, just in case. I tucked the moment away, a secret snapshot for later.

But then I heard Caleb casually say, "...A marriage without feelings is the most stable."

His words sliced through the haze of music and laughter, sharp and cold.

My smile froze.

I felt my face go slack, my heart stuttering in my chest.

His cold words pierced straight into my heart.

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stay upright, trying not to fall apart in front of everyone.

My eyes instantly stung with tears.

I blinked hard, willing them away. Not here. Not now.

I didn’t dare listen further and fled in panic.

I ducked into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. My breath came in shallow bursts.

Unbeknownst to me, I missed Derek’s next words:

"Come on, Caleb, even you don’t believe that. How can you use that to convince me to marry for convenience..."

The words hung in the air, but I was too far gone to hear them.

I stumbled into the bathroom.

My heels clicked against the tile, echoing louder than I wanted. I turned on the tap, splashing cold water on my face.

Salty tears mixed with cold water slid into the corner of my mouth.

The sting was sharp, a reminder I was still alive, still feeling.

People’s hearts are greedy.

No matter how much you have, you always want more. I wanted love, even when I pretended I didn’t.

Caleb had been so good to me after marriage—

I counted the ways—his careful notes, the way he always checked the locks before bed, his habit of leaving little gifts on my pillow. Each one a silent promise.

He’d let me know his schedule, remember my preferences, knew I was afraid of the dark and would leave a light on for me every night...

He did all the little things that mattered, the ones no one else ever bothered to remember.

So I mistook his sense of responsibility for affection.

Maybe I read too much into his kindness. Maybe I just wanted to believe.

After a while,

I sat on the edge of the bathtub, phone in hand, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were swollen, my hair a mess.

I raised my head and forced a terribly ugly smile at the mirror.

I practiced looking brave, practiced not letting it hurt. I didn’t quite pull it off.

"Natalie Wright, you should learn to be content," I muttered to myself.

But my heart wasn’t listening. It wanted more, always more.

I hoped Caleb would never find out about my secret love for him.

Some secrets were safer kept in the dark.