The Roommate, Kiersten Modglin [best books for 20 year olds .txt] 📗

that doesn’t matter anymore. I shouldn’t have let you stay later last night. That wasn't fair to either of us. I wish things could be different. It would be easier if I could just pretend everything was fixed. God, it would be so much easier. But I can't. I just need time. You can still come over on Wednesdays, but it's so you can spend time with Rory. Not me. We both have to remember that. You should get yourself a lawyer, too. I want to keep things civil and fair."

"I don’t want a lawyer. I don’t want any of this. Can we just—"

"I'm sorry, I have to go. I have to take this call. We'll talk soon."

With that, she ended the call. There was no goodbye, just the sudden absence of her voice in the car. Just like the absence of her in my life. I had no idea what had gone wrong, what had changed so much since the night before.

Besides the text message. That was what it all came down to, but the text was obviously just Rory’s way of acting out because she wasn’t getting her way. It had to be. Nothing else made sense.

Why was my daughter determined to ruin things for me?

Why was Addy so willing to let her?

I was doing my best to fix everything between the three of us. Why wasn't that good enough?

Chapter Fifteen

Fifteen minutes later, I pulled back into the parking garage. I felt strangely numb. I hadn't felt this way since I was in high school, getting my heart broken by girls whose names I couldn't even remember now. When I looked at my past, all I saw was Addy.

But Addy had never hurt me like this.

She’d never given up on me.

Was I going to end up divorced? Truly? I couldn’t believe I wasn’t going to be able to get myself out of the mess somehow. There was always a way. I'd moved in with Elias in order to make Addy happy, but I didn't want to stay there long term. I wanted to go home. I wanted to fix this, I just didn’t know how.

If we were truly going to get divorced, I needed to get my own place. I needed to get a second job to afford a second place. We needed to list the house and start dividing our limited assets. We’d have to decide on a custody arrangement.

I couldn't even bear to think about all it would entail as I made my way up the stairs and to the apartment.

Once inside, I saw Elias on the couch, his legs curled up under him as he scribbled through an oversized book of Sudoku puzzles.

"Hey," he said, looking up with a confused look on his face as I shut the door. "What's the matter? I thought you weren't going to be home tonight."

"Yeah, I had a change of plans," I said with all the positivity I could muster, which wasn't a lot.

"What happened?"

I couldn't hold it in. I sank into the couch, shaking my head as I stared into space. "I think I'm getting divorced." I didn't want to talk about it, but I desperately needed someone to make it make sense for me.

He slammed the book shut, setting it on the couch next to him, pencil on top. "I'm sorry, man. I thought you guys were working things out."

"I thought so, too," I said, gathering my hands in my lap and staring down at them, focusing on not letting the tears I felt brimming, fall. "She's already talking to an attorney. I don't know if there's anything I can do to fix this. I think…" I looked up at him, meeting his eye. "I think she's made up her mind."

Sorrow filled his expression, and he cocked his head to the side. As much as Elias may annoy me, I honestly wouldn't have wanted to have this discussion with anyone else. It was true what he’d said that first night at the bar. Toxic masculinity didn't seem to exist with him. Emotions were not only allowed, but encouraged. Talking seemed to be the highlight of his afternoon. It was so different than any friendship I'd ever experienced.

"I'm so sorry, Wes. Maybe she just needs a little space. I'm sure she'll come around."

"I don't think so," I said. "I've tried. I tried doing all she wanted. I tried talking things out. I did everything… She didn't even tell me until she'd already hired an attorney. I'm not honestly sure where she got the money to do it. Probably Vivi."

"Vivi?" he asked, his thick brows knitting together.

"Her mom."

He nodded, seeming to understand. "Well, if you need the money to hire an attorney yourself, I'm happy to let you borrow some."

"No," I said quickly, though I realized a second later that I may actually have to take him up on that. "She said I should, but I'm not ready to do that."

"Well, the offer stands," he said simply. "I'm sorry. I know how much she means to you."

"She means everything," I said, and I felt the first tear begin to fall. I kept my chin tucked to my chest, refusing to acknowledge that it was happening or wipe the tear away. I needed to get to my bedroom, but I couldn't move.

"Life sucks sometimes," he said sadly. "It really, really does. I wish there was something I could do. Maybe she just needs a bit of time to realize how much she misses you."

I sniffled. "Maybe."

"You two belong together. You'll see, she'll come around."

"I offered to quit my job for her," I said. "That job means everything to me. I've worked so hard to get it, and I would throw it away tomorrow if it meant getting her back."

"You shouldn't have to do that. You shouldn't be the one sacrificing everything."

"It doesn't matter. Even that wasn't enough. She's over me. She all but said that."

Elias hung his head. "I'm really sorry, Wes."

"Thanks.” I sniffled loudly, running the back of