It had been years since they last saw each other—since college, since all those late nights that blurred the line between friendship and something far deeper. Michael didn't expect to see Brittany again. Definitely not in the middle of the grocery store. Definitely not with a ring on her finger and a man by her side.
But there she was.
She was standing in the produce section when she looked up and saw him. Her breath caught, just for a second. Her eyes widened with a mix of shock and something dangerously close to excitement.
"Michael?" she said, stepping forward like she forgot she wasn't alone.
Michael turned, blinked, then gave a crooked smile. "Brittany."
She rushed into a quick hug before pulling back to gesture toward the man beside her. "This is my husband, Jason." Her tone softened like she just remembered where she was and who she was with. "Jason, this is Michael… from college."
Jason extended a hand. "Hey. Good to meet you, man."
Michael shook it firmly. "Likewise."
The energy was easy—on the surface.
They chatted a little. Just enough to keep things light. But Brittany's eyes never stopped scanning Michael's face, like she couldn't believe he was standing there. Like something inside her had just snapped back to life.
Then she said it.
"Let me get your number—we should catch up sometime."
Jason didn't flinch. Not then. Just nodded as Michael gave her his phone to type it in.
The whole thing felt casual. Innocent, even.
But it wasn't.
Because that night, Brittany texted.
Then the next day.
Then the next.
The texts got longer. Deeper. Calls came after. Jokes. Confessions. Memories they'd locked away but never really let go of. She started sounding like her again—the version of herself she used to be with Michael. No titles. No tension. No pretending.
Jason noticed.
He didn't say much at first. Just glanced when she smiled at her phone. Asked questions when she stayed up late texting. But Brittany brushed it off—"It's just Michael." "You've met him, he's cool." "We were just friends back then."
But Jason could see it.
The way she lit up. The way she got lost in her phone. The way she started disappearing into a world he wasn't part of.
Then one night, Jason put his foot down.
"I don't want you talking to him anymore."
He didn't yell. Didn't curse. Just said it in that cold, final tone that left no room for argument.
Brittany didn't fight it. Not out loud. But her heart cracked. She stared at her screen for a long time before texting Michael one last time.
"I can't talk to you anymore. Jason doesn't want me to."
Michael read the message three times. His jaw tightened. Fingers hovered over the keyboard, trying to find the right response.
But all he said was:
"Okay."
And then silence.