Pasco and Debbie's relationship seemed to blossom over the next few weeks. He was attentive, charming, and nostalgic, constantly reminding her of their shared past. Yet, Debbie couldn't ignore the subtle cracks in his demeanor.
One evening, Pasco invited Debbie to a fancy dinner party hosted by one of his father's business partners.
As they mingled with the crowd, Debbie couldn't help but notice how effortlessly Pasco slipped into his old habits—charming everyone in the room, but rarely sparing her a second glance.
She tried to shake off the feeling of being invisible, but when Pasco spent most of the evening entertaining a group of women who seemed particularly taken with him, her patience wore thin.
"Pasco," she said quietly, pulling him aside. "Can we talk?"
"Now?" he asked, his tone slightly irritated.
"Yes, now," she insisted, leading him to a quieter corner.
"Why did you bring me here if you're just going to
ignore me all night?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Debbie, not everything has to be about you. I'm networking. This is important. "
Her heart sank. The tone, the dismissiveness—it was all too familiar.
"Pasco, I came here because I thought this was about us. But it feels like I'm just… an accessory to you," she said, her voice trembling.
Pasco's jaw tightened. "You're overthinking things,
Debbie. Can't you just trust me?"
She stared at him, her chest tightening. "I want to trust you, but you're making it really hard."