Never Got Over You -Whitney G. Page 0,5

person is, clearly still has a hold on you.” She was crying now, her chest heaving up and down. “She’s probably the reason why you’re so distant, why I had to go and sleep with someone else because I wasn’t getting enough from you.”

“So, Kate told you to fuck John?” I crossed my arms. “Did you two have this conversation over text messages or on the phone?”

“I used to think that there was something wrong with all the other women you dated. I wondered why they never lasted since you’re such a great catch.” She wiped away a few tears. “But the problem isn’t them at all... It’s you and your failure to see that some cunt you dated however long ago is completely over you, so you should move on and do the same before you end up dying alone.”

The elevator doors finally opened, relieving me from her unwanted spiel.

“I’ll send you a check for this therapy session,” I said, stepping onto the car and quickly pressing the ‘door close’ button. “Thank you for the chat.”

The doors closed before she could get another word out, and I pulled out my phone to send an email.

SUBJECT: NDAS AT THE Chateau and Revoking Security for an Ex

Shannon,

I need this handled within the hour. Also, please send a check to Evelyn in the amount of $250.00. Memo: Therapy time.

Sean Holmes

CEO, Pier Autumn Coffee

I REFRESHED MY INBOX, awaiting her usual “Got it.”

As I stepped off the elevator and headed to valet, I tried not to think about Evelyn’s parting words. Tried to see if there was a hint of truth in any of them.

Nope ...

I was long over Kate. She no longer haunted my dreams with her laughter, no longer invaded my thoughts with her broken promises, and no longer caused me to wake up in the middle of the night wondering where the hell she was.

I stopped comparing every woman I dated to her years ago, and moved on with my life. In fact, I’d finally accepted that we were just young and dumb back then, and that she clearly preferred being with someone who was second best.

I retrieved my car from the valet and sped home to my penthouse condo, making sure to tell the doorman that Evelyn was no longer welcome. The moment I stepped inside, I cracked open a beer and walked onto my expansive terrace.

From where I was standing, I could see all of the things that lured millions of tourists here year after year—Lake Union’s waters, the soft night lights of the city, and of course, The Space Needle.

Below, on one of the smaller (much smaller) balconies, a group of college kids were dancing against the glass railing. They were posing for pictures in superhero and cartoon costumes.

I watched for several minutes as Snow White pretended to give Darth Vader a blow job. Pinocchio then decided to make it a ‘threesome’, but Spiderman thought there was room for four.

What the hell am I watching?

I shook my head as I heard the sound of Shannon’s signature ringtone.

“Yes?” I answered my phone.

“I’ve sent an intern to handle the NDAs and I’ve revoked Evelyn’s access to every building on campus.”

“This couldn’t be said in an email?”

“I sent you one for your records,” she said. “I’m calling because it’s that time of year for me to tell you, Throw it away. Once and for all.”

“Throw what away?”

“Um...” The sound of papers shuffling was in the background. “The memo says throw away that blue and white Kate box.”

I dropped my beer to the ground, instantly shattering the glass to pieces.

“Just so you know, this is like the fifth year in a row that this reminder has popped up for me,” she said. “You still have yet to confirm that you’ve done it. Will this October thirty-first be the time you finally follow through?”

I didn’t say anything. My mind was too busy spinning, processing my recent thoughts against the truth.

“You ever going to tell me who Kate is or why this date is relevant?” There was a smile in her voice. “I mean, now that I think about it, you may have this day confused with something else, you know? It’s just Halloween.”

“Thank you, Shannon. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” I ended the call, and stepped back inside my condo.

Sliding the balcony door shut, I stared at the massive glass bookshelf on the far side of my wall. I walked over to it and opened the bottom left drawer. Hesitating, I pushed