Eighteen Times He Stood Me Up Novel by Rowan Vale _ Novel




Eighteen Times He Stood Me Up Chapter 01

I'd just picked up my soup spoon when Raphael Gunning told me we'd have to put off getting our marriage license.
"We'll do it some other day."
Raphael set down his fork, his tone casual, like he was just commenting on the weather.
I took a sip of soup. "Alright."
He glanced at me, then looked down to pick up some food with his fork, only to lift his eyes toward me again.
"You're not upset?"
I took another sip of soup, my voice steady. "No."
We held our wedding six months ago, and this was the seventeenth time we'd put off getting our marriage license.
He was used to this. So was I.
After I finished my meal, I stood up to clear the table.
As I walked past him, he grabbed my wrist. "McKinley, I swear I'll be free next Monday.
"We already had the wedding anyway. A few more days won't make a difference.
"You can trust me. I won't bail on you this time."
I stared at his hand holding mine, then lifted my gaze to meet his eyes and smiled, "Okay."
Over the past six months, he had said "next week" nine times, promised "for sure" thirteen times, and told me to "trust him" sixteen times.
Still, we never got our marriage certificate.
And next week would be no different—because this time, I'd be the one to stand him up.
My phone vibrated. It was a message from the law firm's HR.
"You're resigning? Does Mr. Gunning know?"
I held my phone and stepped outside while Raphael stayed sitting at the dining table.
He stared at me with a strange expression, hesitated for a moment, then spoke tentatively, "Why aren't you asking me why this time?"
I replied to HR's message first before turning my attention to Raphael. "It doesn't matter anymore."
I meant every single word.
The first time we planned to get our marriage certificate, his intern, Valerie Huxley, said she had a stomachache.
I sat on a bench outside the city hall from dawn till dusk and went home alone.
The second time, Valerie said she couldn't figure out how to put together a case spreadsheet.
He'd left me stranded at a busy highway exit and rushed straight back to the firm without a second glance.
Every time after that, whenever we set a date for our marriage license, Valerie would suddenly have some sort of emergency.
Over the past six months, this same scene had played out seventeen times.
Raphael froze at my words. His Adam's apple bobbed.
After a short silence, he held his phone out to me. "A lot of people hire photographers to film them when they get their marriage certificate these days.
"We should do that too. You've always loved that kind of romantic gesture, right?"
So, he did remember I loved simple romantic moments.
I thought for a second and asked, "Are you free tonight? Let's go out for..."
I intended to ask him out for a final meal, but his phone rang before I finished speaking.
The call was from his trainee, Valerie.
I couldn't hear what she said on the other end, but after he hung up, Raphael looked at me. "Honey, Val..."
I cut him off with a soft smile. "Go on. Drive safe."
Raphael froze, clearly surprised by how calm I was being.
But after a moment, he got dressed and headed out. "I'll bring you a gift when I come back tonight."
The door slammed shut with a loud thud. Soon, I heard a car start and drive away right after.
I stood there, staring at the closed door.
Five years together, six months of a wedding— I should've let go of this relationship a long time ago.

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