Three Years Too Late for Sorry，Just in Time for My Freedom novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

never thought I’d see Nicholas again.

He must have driven all night from New York he looked exhausted. Ifis usually perfect clothes were wrinkled and dirty, with some kind of gross stain on his

shirt collar

When he stepped out of his car, it actually startled me. It had been so long that seeing him felt surreal.

“Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, Would it be okay if I talked to Gabrielle alone for a minute?”

My mom looked ready to tear into him, but Dad held her back.

My father looked at me worriedly, but finally pulled my mother upstairs.

Once they were gone, Nicholas fished a cigarette out of his pocket.

“Mind if I smoke?”

He didn’t wait for an answer-just lit it up and took a long drag.

“You look good, Gabrielle. Better than you did three years ago, actually.”

I didn’t say anything. Just stood there watching him.

He took another hit of his cigarette and laughed, but it sounded bitter. “How’ve you been? Because my life’s been total shit.”

He looked older. Worn down in a way I’d never seen before.

“Don’t freak out-I’m not here trying to win you back or anything. I just… I needed you to know you made the right call. Marrying Evangeline was the biggest

mistake I ever made.”

I stayed quiet the whole time. Nicholas kept talking like I wasn’t even there-like he was just venting to himself.

He said Evangeline was great as his girlfriend but a nightmare as his wife. When their toddler got on her nerves, she’d disappear to her friends’ places for days. When they fought, she’d run home to mommy and daddy.

Nicholas said he was burned out constantly-physically, emotionally, everything.

Why did he drive all the way here to tell me this? He didn’t know.

But I think I did. Maybe I was the only person who’d seen him at his absolute worst. Around me, he didn’t have to pretend to be someone he wasn’t.

He finished his cigarette and ground it into the driveway with his heel. Something cold flickered in his eyes.

The Cross’s old foxes… their time would come. Just not now.

I can’t divorce her yet. I’m probably going to be stuck like this for a long time.”

Gabrielle, I’m getting what I deserved.” He looked at me with this intense stare, like he was waiting for me to say some kind of goodbye.

said. “Yeah, well. Take care, Nicholas.”

No more words. He’s already a stranger. My future’s waiting in front of me, and it sure as hell isn’t behind me.

10:39

Three Years Too Late for Sorry. Just in Time for My Freedom

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