Having My Pick of Love

By now, Logan had sobered up. He rubbed his temples and stood.

"Tara's tired. I should take her home."

Josie sneered. "I'm already here. You can just keep playing dead."

The crowd awkwardly stood by, watching as Josie started packing up my things while muttering under her breath.

"I told you ages ago. With your looks and personality, you should've married into old money and enjoyed life. But no, you had to go suffer in a nouveau riche family. That kind of social circle is full of backstabbing and fake smiles. Someone as innocent as you doesn't belong in a place like that."

Logan's family had a net worth in the high nine figures. To call them a nouveau riche family was a rare insult. But when it came from her, no one dared to refute it.

Josie finished packing and grabbed my bag. Seeing the elegantly wrapped perfume bottle inside, she didn't even bother asking. She merely took it out and tossed it onto the floor.

"What kind of outdated garbage is this? Who thought it was a decent gift?"

The bottle rolled across the floor and stopped at Leah's feet, making her expression falter.

Then, Josie grabbed my hand and marched out.

Logan chased after us and caught my wrist at the door. He said, "Tara, don't be mad. It was just the heat of the moment. When she suddenly asked that, my mind went blank."

I looked into his deep, earnest eyes and felt all my strength drain away.

"You mean that was your instinctive reaction? That, deep down, you want to be with her?"

"Of course not. Tara, it was just a game. If I had said no, she would've felt humiliated."

"So to save her dignity, you had no problem trampling on mine?"

"I only gave her a superficial answer. I'm giving you marriage."

I yanked my hand free and let out a breathless, bitter laugh. "So I should be grateful? Logan, we've been together for three years, yet I never realized you're such a people pleaser."

Just then, Josie pulled up and honked furiously.

Logan tugged at my hand again. "Let me take you home. We can talk this through on the way."

Josie frowned. "If you've got that much free time, why don't you go drive your SUV for some extra cash? Maybe clear your head while you're at it."

Logan stiffened. For the first time, his car—his pride—felt like an insult.

I got into Josie's car. Before closing the door, I looked back at him and said, "Let's call our wedding off. We both need to think things over."

…

On the way back, I scrolled through my social media feed and saw that Leah had posted twice.

"She's nothing like me. But don't you think that just makes it even more obvious what you're trying to cover up?"

"If you've spent the last three years trying to prove that I was wrong to let you go… well, congratulations. You succeeded."

The emotions I managed to hold in all night suddenly burst forth. I broke down in tears and sobbed uncontrollably.

I gave out three years of genuine love, and for what?

I thought Logan's unwavering devotion was love. I never imagined it was just an act, something he deliberately put on for Leah to see. I was nothing more than a pawn in their long-running game.

Josie wasn't the comforting type. She preferred action over words.

"Don't cry. There are plenty of men out there. Just pick another one. My brother is fair and handsome, and my dad is still charming for his age. Take your pick!"

I cried until I was exhausted, then ended up laughing through my tears.

"Josie, am I useless? Even now, I need you to stand up for me."

Josie patted my head and said, "Don't be ridiculous. Everyone's different. I lost my mom early on, so it's just me, my dad, and my brother. None of us know how to express love properly.

"I was rebellious growing up, which was a constant headache for everyone. I hardly ever get the chance to be useful. But you… You're the kindest person I've ever met. Being around you is like basking in the sunlight.

"You're also the only doctor in town who gives the least painful shots. When I was hospitalized, I wouldn't have made it through without you visiting me every day, patiently comforting me without ever losing your temper."