At her family barbecue, Nicole laughed in front of…

I was boring, too responsible, too predictable. Maybe I was. But I was also the man who paid the bills when she was in grad school, who cooked when she worked late, who stayed when I found messages that would have made most men walk away immediately.

Yes, I forgave her once. I thought that meant something. It turned out all it did was teach her I would tolerate anything.

Her cousin Ashley was still staring at us like she could not believe what she had started. Nicole tried to laugh again, but it came out shaky this time. “Seriously, babe, don’t do this here.”

“Why not?” I said.

“You had no problem disrespecting me here.”

That was when her father tried again. “Jake, maybe you two just need space.”

I nodded. “Exactly.

And I’m finally taking it.”

I did not yell. I did not throw anything. I just took another bite of my burger, chewed slowly, and said, “Nicole has been telling people for months that I’m holding her back.

Maybe she’s right. So now she can go find herself without me.”