Page 102 of Maddening Fixation

“I’m so sorry. I won’t be able to make it.”

A brief silence answered me.

I swallowed. “Something happened.”

“What happened?”

His voice was calm, but I knew him well enough to hear the concern beneath it.

“It’s... complicated.”

I looked toward Romeo’s unconscious form.

“I’ll explain another time.”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

When Egor finally spoke again, disappointment weighed down every word.

“You know...” He gave a quiet, humorless laugh. “Without you here, this picnic doesn’t even feel worth having. You were the reason everyone agreed to come.”

Guilt twisted painfully inside me.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I really was on my way.”

A weary sigh came through the speaker.

“I had a surprise planned for you. You’d have loved it.” His voice was calm, but the disappointment beneath it was impossible to miss. “I spent days putting it together.”

My chest tightened.

“Egor... I truly am sorry. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then he spoke.

“No, Juliet. You won’t.”

His voice wasn’t angry anymore.

It was tired.

“When was the last time you actually chose us? Every time we make plans, something happens. Your mother’s health. A family emergency. Your stomach. There’s always a reason. Always something more important.”

Each word landed with quiet precision.

I parted my lips to defend myself.

Nothing came out.

“You know...” he continued after a long pause. “I think I finally understand why you’ve never been able to keep friends... let alone a relationship.”

The words struck with brutal accuracy.

“People don’t walk away because they dislike you, Juliet. They walk away because, sooner or later, they realize they’ll always come second to everything else in your life.”