The Ghost in My House Was Me - Chapter 10: Chapter 10
You are reading The Ghost in My House Was Me, Chapter 10: Chapter 10. Read more chapters of The Ghost in My House Was Me.
"Ma'am, are you okay?"
The jewelry store clerk waves a necklace awkwardly in front of me, clearly uncomfortable with my sudden tears.
Kevin moves closer, his thumb brushing my cheek.
"We can pick something else if you don't like this one," he offers, his voice uncertain before turning sharply to the clerk. "Don't you have better selections?"
I step back, putting space between us.
Even now, Kevin still doesn't get it. He's treating me like some petulant child to be pacified with shiny objects.
"Kevin, just listen for once," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "When we graduated, I would've married you if you were broke. Now? You could stack every dollar you have in front of me—it wouldn't change anything. We're done."
His face goes slack, lips parting uselessly. Behind him, Tommy starts wailing.
I'm already heading for the exit when I remember the flustered clerk. Digging through my purse, I press some bills into her hand. "Sorry for the scene."
The young woman catches my wrist, returning the money and pressing a tissue packet into my palm instead. "For your face," she murmurs.
Kevin barrels after me with Tommy trailing like a sad shadow.
"Haley, I get it now," he pleads. "Just one more—"
His phone interrupts. He glances at the screen and declines. It rings again. And again. I cross my arms.
"Answer it."
Another dismissal. "Wrong number."
But I know that number by heart—same one that lit up my phone during those frozen months when Kevin ghosted me. The same number belonging to that girl I saw kissing him in his car.
I remember her trembling voice saying, "He keeps calling out your name when we're together. It kills me. Please take him back?"
The irony tastes bitter.
Everyone's playing victim here. The other woman begging for my forgiveness. Kevin pretending he's changed. Me pretending I'm not shattered.
Who's actually winning in this mess?
I watch Kevin's face—the perfect poker face he's mastered. One lie poisoning three lives: mine, his own, and that poor girl who actually loves him.
The words leave my lips before I can stop them:
"Answer it, Kevin. That's Jasmine. I'd know that number anywhere."
The jewelry store clerk waves a necklace awkwardly in front of me, clearly uncomfortable with my sudden tears.
Kevin moves closer, his thumb brushing my cheek.
"We can pick something else if you don't like this one," he offers, his voice uncertain before turning sharply to the clerk. "Don't you have better selections?"
I step back, putting space between us.
Even now, Kevin still doesn't get it. He's treating me like some petulant child to be pacified with shiny objects.
"Kevin, just listen for once," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "When we graduated, I would've married you if you were broke. Now? You could stack every dollar you have in front of me—it wouldn't change anything. We're done."
His face goes slack, lips parting uselessly. Behind him, Tommy starts wailing.
I'm already heading for the exit when I remember the flustered clerk. Digging through my purse, I press some bills into her hand. "Sorry for the scene."
The young woman catches my wrist, returning the money and pressing a tissue packet into my palm instead. "For your face," she murmurs.
Kevin barrels after me with Tommy trailing like a sad shadow.
"Haley, I get it now," he pleads. "Just one more—"
His phone interrupts. He glances at the screen and declines. It rings again. And again. I cross my arms.
"Answer it."
Another dismissal. "Wrong number."
But I know that number by heart—same one that lit up my phone during those frozen months when Kevin ghosted me. The same number belonging to that girl I saw kissing him in his car.
I remember her trembling voice saying, "He keeps calling out your name when we're together. It kills me. Please take him back?"
The irony tastes bitter.
Everyone's playing victim here. The other woman begging for my forgiveness. Kevin pretending he's changed. Me pretending I'm not shattered.
Who's actually winning in this mess?
I watch Kevin's face—the perfect poker face he's mastered. One lie poisoning three lives: mine, his own, and that poor girl who actually loves him.
The words leave my lips before I can stop them:
"Answer it, Kevin. That's Jasmine. I'd know that number anywhere."
End of The Ghost in My House Was Me Chapter 10. Continue reading Chapter 11 or return to The Ghost in My House Was Me book page.