Ch. Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 16 Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 16

Chapter 6 

Chapter 6 

The plane touched down in Paris just as the sun was coming up. 

I turned my phone back on. Messages flooded in immediately. 

Forty-seven missed calls. One hundred and twelve texts. 

All from Brendan. 

He started out trying to sound calm. 

Lily, what’s going on? Where are you? 

Stop ignoring me. Call me back. 

Then the panic crept in. 

Are you at the airport right now? 

Don’t do this. I’m turning around. 

I messed up, okay? Let’s just talk. 

By the end he was barely holding it together. 

Please just answer. 

I’m begging you. 

Lily don’t leave me. 

I didn’t respond to any of them. 

Not to hurt him-because I knew how this worked. One reply and he’d think we could fix things. 

I couldn’t let him believe that anymore. 

I blocked his number. Then blocked him everywhere else-Instagram, email, all of it. 

My hands shook a little hitting that final button. 

Chapter 6 

I took a deep breath. The air felt cold and clean. 

Paris was still half-asleep around me, streets wet and gleaming from overnight rain. 

Howard met me at arrivals. 

He runs the bridal studio-been asking me to join for months. 

Saw me and broke into this huge grin, arms out wide. 

“Lily! You made it!” 

I shook my head gently. 

“Actually, I go by Lily now. Middle name.” 

He adjusted without missing a beat. 

“Lily. Perfect. Welcome to Paris.” 

Grabbed my suitcase before I could stop him. 

“Got you a room at a hotel near the studio. Rest today. Tomorrow come meet everyone-they’ve been waiting for you.” 

I managed a small smile. 

“Thanks.” 

In the car, I watched the city slide past my window. 

Felt strangely hollow. Like I should be more excited. 

Like standing in your old apartment after the movers left-just empty rooms. 

But maybe empty was okay. Meant there was space now. 

The hotel room was quiet. 

I showered and fell onto the bed. Couldn’t sleep though. 

Only message waiting was from Sarah. 

Did you land okay? 

Yeah. I’m here. 

Chapter 6 

He swore he’d remember. 

Came back from France with a belt for the security guard. That exact bag for Tina. 

Me? “Totally slipped my mind.” 

May 20th. My birthday. 

Waited for him to bring cake. Fell asleep waiting. 

He took Tina to a concert, walked her home, spent the whole night celebrating her birthday instead. 

At the end I wrote: 

Brendan, I’m not leaving because of a purse. 

I’m leaving because you moved me from first place to last. 

Took me three months and seventeen forgotten promises to finally stop loving you. 

And I did. 

Didn’t cry writing it. Already said it all to myself a thousand times in my head. 

He just never listened. 

Sarah sent a photo. 

Our living room. Half-eaten matcha cake on the table. 

My letter beside it-crumpled like someone had been gripping it for hours. 

Her text: He’s sitting on the floor like a corpse. Hasn’t moved. 

I really thought you guys would make it. 

I typed back. 

Me too. 

Long pause. 

What now? 

I looked out at Paris starting to glow with sunrise. 

Chapter 6 

Now I live for myself. 

Next morning I headed to the studio. 

Old building tucked onto a cobblestone street in the Marais. All wrought-iron balconies and flower boxes. 

Pushed open the heavy door into this whole other world-rolls of white silk and tulle everywhere, delicate lace on cutting tables, soft light pouring through tall windows. 

I stood there for a second, just taking it in. 

I’d turned this place down seven times because of Brendan. 

Used to think my future was a wedding, a house, him. 

Standing here now, I finally saw it clearly. 

There’d been another future waiting this whole time. 

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