Chapter 4The Avoidant’s New Shadow

I checked her profile. She was young, probably a college junior. She lived in the same town Caleb was from.

She was also incredibly bold.

“Look, Chloe. I’m not trying to be mean. Caleb told me you broke up with him.”

Ah. So he did read the message.

“And?” I typed.

A long paragraph appeared a few minutes later.

“You know Caleb. You know how much he’s hurting. He’s avoidant—he can't handle being abandoned. I met him and I realized he has a girlfriend, and I was going to back off. But then he called me last night, crying. I realized you two are a toxic match.”

“I like him. I know how to handle someone like him. I’m a ‘Secure Guide.’ I won’t give up on him or threaten to leave every time things get hard. I’m going to pursue him seriously. Just don't go posting drama online once we’re official.”

I sat there, stunned.

I couldn't even process the logic. I was the one who stayed for three years. I was the one whose grandfather was dying.

But to her, I was the villain for finally reaching my breaking point.

I typed back one word: “OK.”

Everly: “Just ‘OK’? I actually feel bad for Caleb. He wasted three years on someone so cold.”