From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Walking home, I kept racking my brain, trying to figure out where I knew Alex Hamilton from

Nothing.

My phone rang. I picked up without thinking.

Ezra’s voice was pissed.

“Reese, where the hell were you today? I waited at the hospital all day!”

I kept it short.

‘Switched hospitals.”

He got even more annoyed:

‘Why didn’t you run that by me first?”

‘Besides, your closet’s empty, suitcase is gone. You and Autumn on some trip? Why am I finding out like this?”

I threw his own words back at him.

Are temporary things like this really worth discussing?”

Ezra went quiet. He recognized the line.

His voice softened, trying to smooth things over.

‘Friends are having dinner tomorrow night. Need a plus–one. You always wanted to meet them, right?”

‘Can’t make it.” I said.

When I used to beg to meet his friends, he said I was clingy. Needed my own social life.

Now that I was gone, suddenly I was invited everywhere.

Ezra sounded genuinely surprised I’d said no.

“Why are you constantly with Autumn? I’m the one dating you.”

“Want to travel, shop, see movies? I’ll do all that stuff. You don’t need her for everything.”

I used to practically beg him for couple activities.

He was always “too busy” or “maybe next week.”

Places shut down, things sold out, movies left theaters. He never made time.

I didn’t want to drag up old fights.

So’l just laid it out.

“I transferred cities. Not coming back.”

Dead silence.

Like he couldn’t process what I’d said.

Chapter 5

Transferred? When?

“Reese, how do you not tell me something this major?!TM

Torgot.” I said with emotionless

That wasn’t the answer he wanted

He made that frustrated noise, rubbing his temples.

What the hell happened to you?”

hen he started his list, like he was keeping score.

You used to blow up my phone. Always telling me everything.”

Every little detail, you’d share with me.”

Now what?”

lis voice got all wounded.

You disappear without a word. Block me with no explanation. Move across the country like it’s nothing.”

I’m your boyfriend. We were talking about marriage. But I’m the last to know anything.”

Reese.”

ly name sounded like an accusation.

You really don’t see how messed up this is?”

kept my voice steady, like we were discussing weekend plans.

Ezra. You told me to stop being a clingy baby.”

aid I was annoying and needed to be more independent.”

io I started handling everything myself. Stopped asking your opinion about every little thing. Stopped bothering you.”

That’s exactly what you wanted, right?”

did what you asked. Now you’re mad about it?”

zra went dead quiet. Nothing but his strained breathing on the line.

fter a long pause, he finally spoke,

That’s not what I meant…”

didn’t let him finish

Doesn’t really matter anymore. Tin settled in here. I’m not coming back.”

Ter that dinner with your friends, just take Nova She’s your little sister, Isn’t she? Cluse enough to family

Ezra started to protest.

But I wasn’t done. Kept my tone calm as I delivered the final blow

Oh, one last thing I forgot to run by you. Thought I should give you a heads up