From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My boyfriend said I was clingy as hell.

You’re an adult, Reese. Act like it.”

stop being so needy.”

thought that was just how Ezra was.

idn’t like girlfriends who needed a lot of attention.

ntil Nova showed up.

ow he’s all attentive and sweet.

e tracks her period. Buys her tampons.

e wants some random donut at 1 AM?

e’s driving an hour to get it.

parties, he introduces her to everyone:

his is Nova. Take care of her, guys.”

very time I brought it up, he’d shake his head.

he’s just a kid. Reese.”

1. ah. A twenty–one–year–old “kid“.

nd I’m just three years older than her.

at’s when I stopped calling. Stopped asking for things.

ad gave him all the space he wanted.

OW? Ezra suddenly won’t leave me alone.

tra started noticing I’d stopped running everything by him.

y company offered me a transfer to Seattle.

signed the papers and forgot to mention it

Then my best friend invited US to her wedding. I went ALONE

ven scheduled my own surgery without telling him

You’re doing surgery tomorrow?”

Jr. Williams handed back my chart, looking confused.

Isn’t Dr. Martinez back from his conference? You could wall,”

It’s my body. 111 handle it.”

Chapter 1

Dr. Williams looked shocked, but I could see why.

Everyone here knew me as the girlfriend who dragged Ezra to every doctor visit.

Walking out, I ran straight into him.

Ezra was pulling his suitcase, still in travel clothes.

Must have rushed straight from the airport.

Nova was behind him. Wearing my black cashmere coat over her scrubs.

The one I gave HIM for our anniversary.

What are you doing here? You sick again?”

gain.

hat familiar irritation in his voice, like I was some problem he had to deal with.

le grabbed my chart and scanned it.

I’m busy tomorrow. This isn’t serious. Reschedule for next week. I’ll come with you.”

Vithout thinking, I said:

I’ve got it handled. Thanks.”

he cold politeness in my voice stopped him dead.

used to call him crying over paper cuts.

d text him twenty times about what dress to wear.

very meal, every choice–I always asked him first.

ow I was scheduling surgery without even telling him.

we hadn’t run into each other, he wouldn’t have known at all.

grabbed my chart back and accidentally knocked a pill box out of Ezra’s hand.

he label was right there in front of me.

irth control pills.

Don’t get the wrong idea.”

zra bent down to pick it up, bis voice going completely clinical

Nova has bad crampa. This helps with that.

Sova pulled her coat tighter, looking flustered.

I’m so sorry, Reese. Ezra was heading home, but the pain hit me so hard I had to ask him to come with me.

She paused, sounding wistful.

I wish I could handle things on my own like you do. Then Ezra wouldn’t have to drop everything for me

When I had stomach pain once, I asked Ezra which doctor to see.

Chapter 1

This guy–youngest attending at the city’s top hospital–said he didn’t know.

When I called him out on it, he rubbed his forehead like I was some annoying kid.

Just Google it.”

You’re an adult. Figure it out yourself. Stop being so damn needy.”

I’m not your dad. I shouldn’t have to walk you through basic stuff.”

unny how that works.

Von’t lift a finger for his girlfriend, but personally escorts his colleague to the pharmacy.

nyone watching would think Nova was dating him.

efore, I would’ve blown up right there. Made a scene.

istead, I just shrugged.

‘ills won’t be enough. You should massage her stomach, sleep next to her to keep her warm. Hold her when it gets bad.”

ova’s face went red.

Reese, I didn’t mean-”

zra heard sarcasm where I’d meant genuine advice. His voice went ice cold.

You’re still pissed about the conference?”

e meant that thing.

wo weeks ago was his birthday.

busted my ass to get time off, cooked his favorite meal, had his gift custom–made weeks in advance.

e never showed up.

only found out from Nova’s social media that he’d flown to some conference in Europe.

Then I confronted him later, Ezra acted like it was nothing.

It was work. I don’t need permission to travel.”

Birthdays come every year. Career opportunities don’t. Thought you’d get that.”

Don’t you have your own shit to deal with? Why are you tracking my every move?”

ears of disappointment finally boiled over.

yelled back

Am I always going to come dead last with you, Ezta?”

While I was losing it completely, he stayed calm as ever.

“You’re being irrational. We’ll talk when I’m back.”

Then he hung up.