Small Things You Promised Chapter 03
The next morning, Cayson was cleaning.
I watched him awkwardly push a mop across the floor. It felt almost unreal.
In all our time together, he’d never once offered to do chores.
Even trash would sit there for days after I asked him.
Last time, my birthday cake frosting spoiled on the floor.
I threatened to leave, but in the end, I cleaned it myself.
“Men shouldn’t waste time on housework.”
He always said that.
Now I couldn’t help asking, “Cayson, what’s with you today?”
He kept stirring the disinfectant.
“We don’t know what’s causing your fever. Sadie gets sick easily. If she catches it, it’ll be a nightmare. I still remember the mess she caused at our neighbors’ when we were kids.”
I said nothing.
So housework was worth his time, depending on who it was for.
Sadie came out of the guest room, rubbing her eyes.
Cayson picked up the medicine from the coffee table, poured her a glass of water, and passed it over. “Here. Take this.”
She frowned. “Why? I’m not even sick.”
“It’s just to be safe. With you, it’s better not to wait.”
He was gentle now, nothing like last night.
I’d burned with fever then, and he’d rolled over.
“Too hot,” he’d muttered and gone back to sleep.
Sadie pinched her nose and swallowed the pill. Then she turned and saw me. “Raelynn, you still running a fever? Did you take anything?”
Cayson answered before I could.
“Don’t worry about her. She’s not like you. She can take care of herself.”
Yes, I could.
High fever, almost fainting, I still got myself to the hospital.
Even crippling back pain didn’t stop me.
Sadie went to get something, leaving us alone.
I looked at Cayson, dead serious.
“Be honest, what is she to you?”
He was gathering the medicine boxes. At that, he let out a short, dismissive laugh.
“We grew up together. She’s like a sister. Stop reading into it. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
Making a big deal out of nothing.
Five years of us boiled down to that.
What mattered to me, he called that.
What hurt me, still that.
When I was sick, and he walked off, the same response.
When the proposal fell apart, it was still me “making a big deal out of nothing”.
I was so over it.
“I’m going on a business trip in a few days.”
With that, I went into the bedroom to pack.
Sadie came back and stopped at the door, pointing at a small box on my vanity.
“Raelynn, that necklace is so pretty. Where did you get it?”
Cayson gave it to me when he asked me to be his girlfriend.
She looked at him.
He didn’t remember.
“If you like it, take it,” he said. “Rae’s got plenty anyway.”
Our story started in a cliché way. A thief snatched my bag, and Cayson chased him down. Just like that, he fell for me and started chasing after me like crazy.
Then came the confession and the necklace.
He went through more than thirty sketches, seven goldsmiths, and made it himself in the end.
The pendant was a half-open door.
He said it was inspired by the old iron gate I stood by when he chased the thief.
Its paint was flaking, but with me there, everything seemed to glow.
“If that door led anywhere,” he said, “I’d want it to lead to you.”
Back then, I saw something precious in his eyes.
So I said yes.
I didn’t know it would be the last time.
“Take it if you want,” I said in a flat voice.
Sadie smiled, slipped the necklace on, and admired her reflection.
My phone buzzed.
It was a message from the agent.
“Raelynn, we’ve agreed on the price. The contract’s ready. When can you come in to sign?”
My finger hovered for a few seconds before I replied.
“Tomorrow.”