When Love Breaks by Jack

Chapter 9

Knowing Bryant was waiting for me, the last thing I expected was to find someone else in the passenger seat, especially someone who was supposed to hitch a ride, Margaret, sitting there as if she belonged..

I was on the verge of turning around and

Bryant with an outstretched hand. “Kaving, but reason held me back. I approached

Without a word, Bryant handed them over.

I circled the front of the car and slid into the driver’s seat, catching Margaret’s stiff and surprised expression. I couldn’t help but smirk. “What’s the big deal? You’re practically Bryant’s sister. Hitching a ride is the least of our worries.”

Then, leaning over to glance at Bryant still outside, I called, “Come on, get in. Timothy must be waiting.”

The drive was eerily silent like we were trapped in a tomb.

Margaret tried to strike up a conversation with Bryant but gave up, probably because it was awkward to turn back constantly.

Sensing my discomfort, Bryant suddenly handed me a bottle. “Mango juice, your favorite.”

and handed it

a departure from my past self who’d eat

it back, no

couldn’t help but comment, her tone laced with complexity. “Passing back a drink you’ve sipped? You know, that’s

even more

implying and retorted, “I didn’t realize

back in a

banter between them. Margaret snarked back, “Jealous? Why

“Who cares” Bryant retorted.

his wedding night, heard I was in trouble

172

10:34

TOME

Chapter 9

Bryant’s face darkened, and he sharply cut her

on the brakes, barely stopping before the crosswalk, my heart sour like soaked

tinged with the bitter realization of Bryant’s absence on our wedding night, a night he had vanished after a mysterious phone call, leaving me.. alone and

by Timothy, Bryant’s grandfather, our marriage had begun on rocky

comment had reopened that wound deeper than

like the butt