The Third Wheel Bride Chapter 08
After the new year, I took over management of the Boston office.
The work kept me busy, and I liked it that way.
Julian turned out to be a great work partner: sharp, thorough, and funny when you least expected it. We worked well together.
We’d grab dinner sometimes and talk about work, about life, about nothing in particular. He never asked about my past, and I never volunteered it.
The distance between us felt exactly right: close enough to matter, far enough to breathe.
In March, Caleb called. It was the first time I’d heard from him in over six months.
“Brianna. I’m getting married.”
Something stilled inside me. “Congratulations.”
“To Emma.”
“… Okay.”
The line went quiet.
“That’s it?” His voice sounded strained, like he was trying to stay calm. “Nothing else you want to say?”
I thought about it. “I hope you’re both happy.”
I meant it.
They chose each other. All I hoped now was that they’d stop hurting everyone around them, and stop hurting themselves.
A bitter laugh came through the line. “Always so untouchable, Brianna.’
“People change.” I kept my voice even.
“But I mean it. I hope you’re happy.”
I hung up and went back to my paperwork.
My chest was still. No ache, no tremor, nothing.
Over dinner with Julian that night, I mentioned it.
He set his fork down and looked at me. “You okay?”
I nodded. “I stopped being sad about that a long time ago.”
“Good.” He picked up his glass.
“You shouldn’t waste your peace on people who don’t deserve it.”
I nodded.
After dinner, we walked along the Charles. The air was soft, warm for March, the first real hint of
spring.
“Brianna.” Julian stopped walking.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”
I turned to face him.
“I know you might not be ready for anything right now.”
His gaze held mine, steady and open. “But I’m willing to wait.”
For a second, I forgot how to speak.
“You don’t have to answer right now.” His eyes softened.
“We can take it slow.”
I looked at him, and for a flash, I was somewhere else. Years ago, Caleb standing in front of me with that same quiet certainty.
Back then, I’d believed love was something that lasted forever.
Now I knew better. The only thing that lasted was change itself.
I smiled at him. “I just need a little time, Julian.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
When I got home, I opened my laptop. There was an email from Emma.
It was a long one.
She said she and Caleb were getting married, just a quiet City Hall wedding, no reception.
She said she’d finally learned that stolen happiness always came with a price.
She said the biggest regret of her life was losing me.
She said she was sorry.
I sat with the letter for a long time. In the end, I wrote back one line.
[Have a good life.]
Then I dragged the email to the trash.
Some mistakes can’t be forgiven. And some people, once lost, stay lost.
