Complete Without You (ONC 2022)

Chapter 8 - Steak and Surprises (Sadie)

Passersby looked at our site with concern, but I waved them on. He folded into himself on the table, and I gave him his physical space, given how he reacted the last time he was upset. "That sounds awful. But screw, Ally. You're in Australia, having a killer time. You just spent a day seeing dolphins, turtles, and rays. She doesn't know what she lost."

Neil lifted his head and gazed at me with bloodshot eyes. "She knows exactly who I am, and that's why she never entertained the idea of marrying me."

"Some people are ill-suited for each other. It doesn't mean you won't find love with someone else." I stared into his eyes, searching for the wistful look from this afternoon, but it'd vanished.

"With my 'boundaries' and all? That's a polite way of saying I'm a psychotic mess."

Uneasiness settled in my stomach like a tapeworm. He was regressing because of his emotional pain, but I couldn't have him dismissing boundaries. "No, it's not. We've grown up in a world that teaches us there's one way to show love, one linear path to a successful relationship, but there's not. Love is different and looks different for everyone."

"Find me a woman who wants to be with a man who can't be unexpectedly touched."

Had he not listened to a word I'd said today? Was I not obvious enough with my feelings for him? Despite my apprehension about how he clearly wasn't over his ex, I took a deep breath. "She's sitting right here and brought you supper."

He ran a hand through his brown hair, his voice finally softening. "There's more wrong with me than that, Sadie."

"I've got stuff to tell you too, and we'll see what happens when we both lay our cards on the table. But before that, can we have a timeout and eat? I worked hard to make this."

Neil nodded and cut into his steak. I speared peppers and zucchini that were growing a little cold, but grandma's spices made up for it.

He finished chewing his first bite. "Steak's fantastic, Sadie."

"Thanks. It was meant as more of a celebration meal, but a 'screw the insensitive jerks who hurt us' feast works too." I layered my baked potato with our unaccustomed luxuries: sour cream and bacon bits.

Neil didn't laugh and raised an eyebrow. "Your ex get engaged recently too?"

"Nah, I don't have a clue what that man's doing, nor do I care. I can banish the pain he caused me without involving myself in his life, physically or emotionally."

Neil cut aggressively into his steak, his knife screeching against the metal plate. "Must be nice."

"It is, but you have to stop blaming yourself for it to work."

"I'm a little too preoccupied with not sending my ex scathing messages to reach your magic Zen state of self-actualization." It was the first time he used a condescending tone with me, and it left a chill on my skin.

I focused on my food, although it was bland and unappetizing now. The steak was too chewy and dry, the vegetables were overly oily, and the potato reminded me of chewing on wet cardboard. After ten minutes of silently eating with Neil checking his phone and either sighing or cursing, I'd only eaten half the meal and was ready to vomit. I tossed my leftovers into a container and grabbed my phone.

"I'm going for a walk. Text me if you need anything."

My first stop was the camp kitchen, where I dropped my food off in the fridge. Maybe it would taste better tomorrow. Would Neil still treat me harshly then? I wanted to support him, but I only pissed him off. While I made my lap around the park, I wondered if he would meet me partway as I spotted another animal. Seeing a dingo would make him forget about his impulsive ex.