27 Calls 2 Wristbands 1 Empty Anniversary Chapter 02
Julian got home past midnight.
I was already in bed.
In the old days, whenever he came home late, I’d leave a light on and curl up on that narrow sofa, waiting. I wanted him to feel like someone was there for him. Like he had a home.
He always told me I was being stupid. Making things hard for myself. I never listened. I thought he was all sharp edges on the outside, soft underneath.
Now I think he meant every word.
Tonight, I’d showered and stretched out on our big, comfortable bed. And I realized Julian was right. Why cram myself onto a sofa when there’s a king-size bed right here? If that wasn’t making things hard for myself, what was?
I won’t do stupid things like that anymore.
A warm body pressed up behind me. A sweet, cloying scent hit my nose.
I knew that perfume. Maison Margiela. Maddie’s go-to.
I used to love Julian’s arms around me. They made me feel safe, like a ship finally reaching harbor in a storm.
Now, all I could see was Maddie’s face buried against his chest.
A wave of nausea hit me. I shoved his hand away, grabbed my pillow, and headed for the guest room.
Julian clearly hadn’t seen that coming.
The old me would’ve curled into his arms the second he lay down.
“Sophie, what the hell is wrong with you?” His voice was sharp. “I’ve been working all day. I come home exhausted, and now I have to deal with your attitude? Can you just grow up?”
Working all day.
The lie was so flimsy I almost laughed.
Exhausted from a whole night of playing boyfriend to Maddie, maybe.
I looked at him, calm. “Do you remember what today is?”
He frowned. Impatience written all over his face.
“What, some anniversary? How many days since we met? How many dates we’ve been on? You women and your obsession with random dates. I’ll never get it.”
I’d already decided to end this. Five years. But hearing those words still cut.
I remembered our first anniversary. I’d set up a candlelit dinner at home, ordered from his favorite restaurant, arranged flowers, decorated the table.
I thought he’d walk through the door and light up. Instead, he laid into me.
He said he’d been working all day. He didn’t have the energy for any of this.
I remember being so confused. Wasn’t being together supposed to mean that seeing each other after a long day made things better? Gave you energy?
When did I become his burden?
I didn’t say anything that night. I cleaned up the kitchen in silence and went to the guest room.
It was my fault too. The next day, he showed up with flowers and an excuse, and I folded. He said he’d been tired. Said he lashed out. Said he was just an avoidant person who hated formal gestures. Said being together was enough.
I believed him.
God, I was stupid.
The guy who claimed he hated music festivals? He went to Coachella with Maddie. Held pink cotton candy for her.
See? There’s no such thing as emotional avoidance. He was just avoiding me.
“Today is our fifth wedding anniversary.”
“Three days ago, you gave me two Coachella VIP wristbands and said you’d go with me.”
“I waited outside the VIP entrance for two hours. I called you twenty-seven times. You never came.”
Julian’s face went rigid.
“I got busy at work. Forgot. I’ll take you next time.”
He stepped closer, reaching for my waist. His go-to move to smooth things over.
The old me would’ve melted. This time, I stepped back. Out of reach. I met his eyes.
“I was going to go in alone. But the wristbands were gone.”
A flicker of guilt crossed his face. He probably thought I’d never go by myself, so he never imagined I’d find out. But he recovered fast.
“Maybe you lost them. Or put them somewhere and forgot.”
“Either way, I didn’t make it. Going alone wouldn’t have been fun. I’ll buy new tickets. Next time.”
Lie after lie. I felt something sink deeper in my chest.
They say one lie takes a hundred more to cover.
If I kept pressing, he’d just keep lying.
I didn’t have the energy for this fight.
I pulled up the trending topic on social media. Found the most viral video. Held my phone in front of his face.
“Oh really? Were you busy with work? Or busy with Maddie?”
“And the wristbands? I didn’t lose them. I think we have a thief in the house.”