Saving For Us: He Spent On Her Novel – I listed some unused furniture on Craigslist, and a girl messaged me asking to negotiate the price. “Could you make it a little cheaper?” “I haven’t graduated yet. I just had a fight with my roommate and moved out of the dorm. My boyfriend found me a place.” “He’s rich and says we’ll get married after I graduate, but I don’t want to be a burden to him.” “Can you knock off twenty bucks?
I can do local pickup!” Back in college, when I was dating Jonathan Sterling, I once rode a Citi Bike for two hours just to save five dollars. I was only a middle-class office worker now, but at least I was better off than a student. My heart softened, and I agreed. That evening, two figures appeared at the entrance of Oakwood Heights Apartments. The girl looked proud. “See? I’m amazing. I got a like-new washer and dryer for under a hundred bucks!” The man beside her smiled indulgently. “Yes, yes. My baby’s the best.” “But I make money to take care of you. You don’t need to save it for me.” “I’m the CEO of Sterling Enterprises. Do you really think I can’t afford you? Just this once. Don’t do it again.” He lifted his head with a smile, and when our eyes met, I froze.
It was Jonathan, the boyfriend who had told me he needed to travel for three months to earn triple travel reimbursement. — The air went still, and I clearly saw panic and shock flash across Jonathan’s face. I parted my lips, about to speak, when he shot me a warning look. Madison Reeves didn’t notice anything strange. She pouted sweetly. “I don’t want to live off you. What if one day you decide you’re done with me?” “What are you looking at? Why aren’t you answering me?” Jonathan snapped out of it and ruffled her hair. “How could I ever dump you?” Following his gaze, Madison looked at the washer beside me. “Everything works fine, right?” I forced a smile and began explaining the features.
Jonathan suddenly asked, “Why are you selling furniture? Short on money?” I froze for a second. Was money ever really enough? Before I could answer, Madison punched his arm lightly. “Don’t say that!” She turned to me with an apologetic smile. “Don’t mind him. When someone’s rich, they don’t understand what normal people go through.” She shot Jonathan a playful glare and rolled up her sleeve, revealing a diamond tennis bracelet glittering on her wrist. “I wanted one for my birthday. I would’ve had to save half a year of allowance to afford it. He just bought me the entire season’s collection from Tiffany & Co.! I still have pieces in my closet I haven’t even unboxed.” Last summer, I had fallen in love with a dress on sale at Nordstrom for $300. Jonathan had tried to pay for it, but I stopped him. I smiled like it didn’t matter. “I can’t even wear it to work.
It’d be a waste.” “Wouldn’t it be better to save the money for our house fund?” It wasn’t that I didn’t want it. Two days earlier, Jonathan had complained about being late and having $300 deducted from his paycheck. “I had a fight with my roommate and just wanted to rent a cheap place near campus. He went and bought a penthouse outright and put it in my name! It’s $12,000 per square foot. I could work my whole life and maybe afford a bathroom!” When I rented this place, I had argued with the landlord until my face turned red over an extra hundred dollars in utility bills. Jonathan had been furious when he saw me upset and wanted to move out immediately, but I refused.
This apartment was close to his office in The Ridges, which meant a shorter commute and more sleep for him. “And I love pop stars. He took me to front row seats at a Taylor Swift concert! Oh no, when I put it that way, I really do sound like I’m just living off him.” Madison sounded like she was complaining, but there was a smile in her voice. I stood there, my face growing paler by the second. Jonathan cleared his throat, and Madison slapped her forehead in mock embarrassment. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to show off.” “Let’s add each other on Instagram. If you have more furniture to sell, remember me!” Jonathan tried to stop her, but she quickly scanned my QR code. “I’m not relying on him! I’m going to be independent!” A black Bentley Continental GT was parked nearby.
Jonathan looked helpless. “At least let me drive you home. I’m not about to carry a washer down the street like an idiot.” When I rented this place, I had also bought secondhand furniture online. To save on moving fees, I refused to hire a moving company and carried the heavy couch and cabinet up four flights of stairs by myself. So that was how I looked in his eyes. Like an idiot. Only after they disappeared from sight did I feel like I could breathe again. My phone buzzed.
A message from Jonathan. [It’s cold outside. Go back home. We’ll talk tonight.] I let out a self-mocking laugh and rested my hand on my slightly swollen belly. Jonathan loved kids. Just a few days ago, I had planned to surprise him. Now it felt like a cruel joke. Even knowing he was with Madison, I still called him. The first time, he declined. The second time, he declined. The third time, his phone was off. I lowered my head and realized my palm was bleeding from my nails digging into it. The cut was small, but my heart felt numb with pain. When I got home, I accepted Madison’s follow request.