Cheap love

The day I went to pick up our wedding rings, I discovered there were two. One was mine. The other belonged to Summer, the college student my boyfriend, Ethan, was sponsoring. I confronted him, only to overhear his phone call: "Help me buy an apartment in your name for Summer. Don't let Olivia find out." A pause, then his choked voice: "I love her. I can't give her up." That was it. I let him go. I let them have each other.

1

Finding two identical wedding rings felt like a punch to the gut. I had designed it myself, the inner band engraved with our names and anniversary date. The other ring, identical in every way, bore their names and their anniversary. I thought our rings were unique, meaningful. Now, I just felt like a clown.

I forced a smile, placing their ring back in its box. As I turned to leave, I tossed mine in the trash. Stepping out into the cool air, my head began to clear. I was about to call Ethan, demanding an explanation, when I saw his text. He was waiting for me at a nearby Chinese restaurant.

My stomach churned with anxiety. As the hostess led me to his table, I saw him standing by the window, his back to me, on the phone. His low voice sliced through me: "Help me buy an apartment in your name for Summer. Don't let Olivia find out."

The world tilted. My suspicions were confirmed. What was I to him?

The voice on the other end said something I couldn't hear. Then, Ethan’s voice, thick with emotion: "I love her. I can't give her up."

A bucket of ice water couldn't have been more effective. A strange calm settled over me. He loved Summer. Fine. I would let them be happy.

I knocked lightly on the window frame. Ethan spun around, phone snapping shut, a flash of panic in his eyes. "When did you get here?"

"Just now," I smiled. "Who were you talking to?"

He studied my face, gauging my reaction. Seeing my neutral expression, he relaxed. Pulling out a chair for me, he said, "It was work. Reminding me about a meeting this afternoon."

I nodded, playing along. "Let's order. You need to get back to the office."

He signaled for the waiter, then turned back to me. "So, the ring? What do you think?"

My smile faltered. "It's beautiful. But there's another one just like it. How strange."

I let it hang in the air.

His eyes flickered, a nervous tic in his jaw. "Must be a mistake. I'll check it out this afternoon."

I said nothing, the chill spreading through me. He stared, surprised by my silence. I was usually the chatty one, eager to share every detail of my day. He used to listen patiently, even offering comments. That was before Summer arrived. After that, he became increasingly impatient, interrupting me mid-sentence: "Girls are cuter when they're quiet. You talk too much."

I’d protested, but he never apologized. He just let me stew in my frustration. How foolish I had been. The signs were all there.

2

Ethan and I had known each other since kindergarten. Our parents were close friends, and we’d practically been engaged since w...