Page 8 of The Time It Takes

I'd changed into my uniform after getting cleaned up at the gym, so there was no need for me to go home. And I liked it when my partner drove. It was nice not having to be on constant alert just to get from point A to B.

We got into the car, and I started to scroll. A few minutes later, Arlie cleared his throat. I looked up from my phone. "Hm?"

"We need a plan. When you break up, where are you going to stay? You'll probably be stressed, so you need to know beforehand where you'll go next. Maybe you could come stay with the pack. With me."

"I don't know," I said. I wasn't sure how much company I'd want when I was dealing with all of that—or how embarrassing it might be. Although, I felt a little better already for having decided what to do, even if there was some sadness in it, too.

Making a decision was better than being stuck forever. That didn't mean it was going to be easy and fun ending a three year long relationship with a woman I'd loved.

"I've moved a lot of my stuff out," I admitted to him. "I don't want her to trash my things."

"You think she might?"He sounded alarmed.

"Oh yeah. For sure." I was back to focusing on my phone. "She doesn't even like me now. You think she'll be nice about the breakup?"

"Oh god," said Arlie.

"Don't worry about it. It's not your problem." He didn't need to take it so seriously. It was kind of irritating to have my partner think I couldn't handle myself. "I'll deal with this."

"No, bud. Not a good idea. What if she hits you? I don't want you hurt. I don't want you hitting her back, either, in a fit of anger. If she's that unstable, you shouldn't be there alone."

"I'm not in danger," I told him. "And I'd never hit her."

He took a deep breath. I glanced at him, and the way he was gripping the steering wheel.

"You don't need to worry about me so much," I told him.

He let out his breath, and I could hear the surrender in it. "Okay. Just...call me if you need me, okay? Whatever it is. I'll be there, or I'll listen. Whatever. I'm always going to be your backup."

I looked up from my phone and found myself smiling at him. "Thank you." It was really good to hear that.

Chapter four

The breakup went betterin one way than expected, worse in another. I felt like I was something disgusting she was ready to scrape off her shoes, not a boyfriend she'd miss, not someone she'd once loved.

She said some ugly stuff. But she clearly didn't want to stay together anymore than I did.