8. Madeline
Madeline
Opening the duffle bag, I continued to empty my clothes from Vince’s wardrobe. It was stupid how emotional I was getting. We weren’t a couple.
“Madeline?”
Closing my eyes for a moment. So much for getting this packed before he got home.
“In here.” I replied. Quickly trying to compose myself before he walked in. Last thing I needed was him finding me upset in his wardrobe.
“What are…” he paused at the door, his voice changing as he saw the room.
It was just stuff. Stuff that I probably should never have left here. “Sorry, I thought I’d have it all out of here before we got dinner.”
He slowly looked up from the packed bags to me. “Right.”
Opening the dresser, I stared at my jewellery, though each piece had a matching piece for him beside it. I started to realise now I fucked up.
“Moving out.” He muttered,
“I’m not even sure when I moved so much stuff in.
” Those pieces should be together. I closed the top drawer and opened the second.
“How was your day?” I kept my focus on the black cushions of all my earrings.
Actually. I was leaving all this. Too many pieces he had brought me and over the years, everything just blended together.
Moving to the second bay. If I had a choice, I might have left everything, but that wasn’t fair to the woman he meets. She deserves an empty wardrobe, not one filled with clothes of a woman he only saw as a friend.
“Madeline?”
I turned. Had he said something? By his expression, he had. “Sorry, what did you say?”
He shook his head. “Forget it.”
I forced a smile. “Um, actually, about dinner. Can we reschedule it?” Taking my skirts off the hangers. “I’m on this really strict diet for the wedding and I can’t afford Mom thinking I broke her meal plan.”
“Let me guess, a liquid diet.”
My hand froze on the hanger. Sometimes I hated how well he knew my life.
I nodded. “Broth, always the lowest calories.” I pushed the empty coat hangers to the side.
“When you reschedule, you mean cancel.”
Yeah. I really hated how he knew me so well. “It might just be easier for the moment.” Finally emptying the last drawer. “Anyway, I’m not eating.” I tried to make light of it, but his intense stare just made it harder.
“I’ll help, um,” he looked around the room. “Carry them down.”
I smiled. I was sure if we gave it enough time; we would adjust to this new friendship.