It was a bold move. But she could see the turmoil in his eyes. He was already unraveling. Rather than letting these doubts fester in silence, she chose to speak them aloud, no matter the cost.
Megan’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice trembling with emotion.
“If I don’t say this now, were you just going to carry on as if nothing’s wrong?”
Eric’s face paled, his composure crumbling under her words. He hadn’t anticipated that his seemingly well-guarded, fleeting thoughts would be so effortlessly laid bare by her. In that moment, standing before Megan, Eric felt a tangle of guilt and unease stir within him.
“Megan,” Eric began, his voice faltering after a moment of reflection.
“About Hadley…” His brow creased, caught in an inner battle.
“I don’t know how to explain it. She just… feels familiar somehow.”
“What?” Megan’s eyes widened, stunned for a heartbeat before she buried her face in her hands, her sobs echoing in the room.
Eric, flustered, jumped to his feet and stood helplessly before her.
“Megan?”
“You’re impossible!” Megan cried, lifting her tear-streaked face to glare at Eric, fury flashing in her eyes.
“And what about me? Are you planning to walk away from us?”
Eric’s frown deepened, his throat tightening.
“We’ve been together for over a decade. I’m not leaving you.”
Yet, Hadley’s image flickered in his mind, unbidden.
He shut his eyes, frustration coursing through him, and murmured, “I’ve never considered being with Hadley. There’s nothing between us.”
He had Megan, and Hadley had Ernest. What could possibly come of it? It was neither right nor plausible.
“You said it yourself!” Megan’s voice was sharp, her trembling features betraying her resolve.
“But words are cheap. How can I trust you?”
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Eric blinked, bewildered.
“What do you want me to do?”
Megan’s eyes narrowed, a spark of determination in them.
“Are you saying you’ll do whatever I ask?”
“Yes.” Eric paused, then nodded firmly.
“Anything.”
“Very well!” Megan swiped at her tear-stained cheeks, her resolve hardening.
“Then we stick to the plan. My father returns next week. You’ll come with me to meet my parents for dinner. I’ll choose the day, and it needs to happen soon.”
“Alright,” Eric agreed, his voice steady. She had brought this up before, and though he had been hesitant then, there was no room for delay now.
“And…” Megan’s gaze swept over him, her heart steeled.
“After you meet my folks, we’ll set our wedding date. We’ll get engaged first and marry before the year is out.”
“What?” Eric’s eyes widened, caught off guard by the sudden leap.
“What, you don’t want to?” Megan’s voice quivered, her eyes glistening with the threat of fresh tears.
“That’s not it,” Eric said quickly, shaking his head.
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