Marcus’ POV
The drive to the farmhouse felt longer than it should have. My fingers tapped against the steering wheel, a steady rhythm that barely masked the growing pit in my stomach.
“She’s with her best friend,” I said aloud, as if saying it would make it true.
Still, something gnawed at me. That pause in Stacey’s voice, the hesitation...
I shook my head. “Don’t ruin this for yourself, Archibald,” I muttered. “You’re overthinking it.”
When I turned down the gravel driveway, the farmhouse came into view. It was charming, nestled among rolling fields of green with a rustic charm that screamed small-town perfection.
But what caught my attention wasn’t the house—it was the faint light spilling out of one of the windows.
I parked the car, grabbing the stuffed toy and bouquet as I stepped out. The gravel crunched under my feet, the sound louder than it should have been in the stillness.
As I got closer, I could make out movement through the lit window.
And then I saw them.
Betty was inside, sitting on the couch with Brent. She was half-dressed, her shirt pulled down just enough to reveal the curve of her shoulder and the hint of her chest.
Brent was leaning over her, his hands resting on her thighs as he kissed her neck. His lips trailed down her collarbone, his movements slow and deliberate, like he had all the time in the world.
She tilted her head back, her eyes fluttering shut, her lips parting slightly as he kissed her.
My heart stopped.
The bouquet slipped from my hand, landing in the dirt with a muted thud.
I stood there, frozen, the stuffed toy clutched tightly in one hand. The sight burned itself into my mind, the realization cutting deeper than I thought possible.
They weren’t just best friends.
They weren’t just hanging out.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I turned back toward the car. The stuffed toy felt heavier now, like it was mocking me.
I climbed into the driver’s seat, gripping the wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.
The road blurred as I drove away, but I couldn’t outrun the image in my head.
Betty and Brent. Together.
I was too late.