Neighbor Dearest

Dad clapped his hands together. “Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving.”

“We were going to go out to dinner, Damien. I hope you’ll join us?” my mother said.

“Only if it’s okay with Chelsea. She might want to badmouth me in peace for turning her apartment into Fort Knox.”

Smacking him playfully, I said, “You’d better be coming.”

“Alright, then.”

Dinner at Hooligan’s Family Style Restaurant started out pretty routine. We each ordered the salad bar, which they were known for, and an entrée. Dad and Damien drank from the same pitcher of Blue Moon beer, while Mom and I shared a bottle of Chardonnay. They listened as I spoke about the latest happenings at the youth center, and Damien told the story of his presentation on Arts Night.

After the waitress cleared our plates, my father decided to start questioning me about the move. That was when things went seriously downhill.

“I have to admit, honey. I was not very impressed with this new place. I love spending time with you, but that was an awful lot of work just to move you to a crappier neighborhood. If there was a legitimate reason, I could see it. It makes me question your judgment a little.”

After downing my wine, I glanced over at Damien.

He was staring at me when he suddenly dropped a bomb. “She’s moving because of me.”

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

“What are you talking about?” my mother asked.

“It has nothing to do with the apartment. She’s moving because of me.”

“Damien…” I said in an attempt to get him to stop where this was going.

“Let me explain it to them. They’re your parents. They love you. And I don’t want them questioning your judgment. There is nothing wrong with your judgment.”

He turned to my father. “Your daughter is one of the best people I’ve ever known. She’s become a great friend and has opened her heart to me several times. I care for her deeply, and as you probably figured out, I’m very protective of her. That also means protecting her from me. I just can’t be the kind of man she deserves as a lifelong partner. I’ve had too many moments where I’ve seemed to forget that, because she makes it so damn easy to forget. I was trying so hard not to hurt her like he did, but I somehow managed to anyway. She’s moving to protect herself from getting hurt any further.” He turned to me. “I’m so sorry.”

I needed some air. “Excuse me.” My chair scratched the floor as I got up and rushed to the bathroom.

Somehow his being so open in front of my parents, apologizing to me in front of them, gave an unwanted finality to the situation. He wasn’t even trying to pretend that things were great between us anymore, because they weren’t.

This felt like a breakup.

There hadn’t been any actual sex involved in our relationship, but my emotions had been all in since day one.

Damien helping me move.

That speech.

I needed to see the situation tonight for what it was.

Damien was ending it.

After I returned to the table, the rest of the dinner was quiet.

When Damien eventually took off in the empty U-Haul truck, I urged my parents not to pry any further and assured them that I would be okay. They hugged me goodbye and left me alone in my new apartment.

Later that night, sitting on my bed and surrounded by boxes, I got an unwanted housewarming present. It came in the form of an email from the last person I ever expected.Chelsea,It took me a while to figure out if I should even send this message, mainly because I just don’t want to upset you. I needed to let you know how good it was to see you at Bad Boy Burger. I’m pretty sure you saw me, but in case you didn’t, it was the day you were sucking face with some dude who had a lower arm tat. I was going to go over and say something, but you seemed a little busy. I’ve lived with a lot of guilt since our breakup. Seeing that you’d moved on with someone else made me truly happy.

I wish you nothing but happiness.ElecI wouldn’t write back. The timing of that message was seriously like a sucker punch to the gut.

Shutting my laptop, I closed my eyes and cried myself to sleep for the last time, vowing that tomorrow would be the beginning of a new phase of my life.CHAPTER FIFTEENSTALKERMy sister liked to call me during her meal in between performances.

Jade spoke with her mouth full, “You haven’t heard from him at all in two weeks?”

“No. And I’m telling you, after that speech in front of Mom and Dad, I just knew this was going to happen. It was like he was setting me up perfectly for life without him—apologizing to my parents, putting those locks on the doors. And his mood was just really bizarre and guarded that whole last day. It’s out of sight, out of mind now apparently for him.”