The kinder thing to do

Anthony had said most of what he wanted to say, but there were also some words he needed to say. He wanted to make clear how things had to be moving forward, and what the consequences would be if something like this should happen again. Because although Veronica would be getting off easy this time, she shouldn't expect that next time. For this he said, "But if you do act out like that to her again, I am afraid I WILL hold it against you, even if Rebecca doesn't. I won't be able to stay kind and I will be forced to let you go as a friend. As you know there are very few things in life that make me angry, but intentionally disrespecting or hurting my wife, is very high up in that very short list."

Veronica was happy that Anthony had not abandoned her yet. Even if it was at the mercy of Rebecca. But she wasn't satisfied just yet. Not wanting to give in without a proper answer or explanation, she asked him flat out, "But why her and not me? She was your friend. Just like I was. I have been your friend for much longer. So, why does she get to have the chance to become more, and I don't. Why didn't anything happen between you and me even if we have been in each other's lives for over a decade, but does she get to be a fiancé in just a few short years?"

But although this would be a tough question to answer for most, it wasn't for Anthony. Anthony looked up at the clear night sky and said without missing a beat, "Because you were a friend that I never intended to be more with, whereas she was someone I was a friend with that I thought I couldn't be more with. But had every desire to. So, when it became clear that there was an option to be more than a friend with her, I grabbed it and I don't plan on ever letting go."

Veronica found Anthony's words to be a tough pill to swallow and found them to be quite harsh, but that too was part of who Anthony was. He didn't necessarily intend to be mean or harsh in his words, he was just so honest that his words would hurt sometimes. Much like they hurt her today. To hear him use the word 'never' in describing the way he looked at her, that really stung. It would have been one thing to hear him say that he never looked at her like that. But to say that he had seen her, but never INTENDED to be anything more than friends, that completely shattered her hope of them ever being something more. But although she wasn't too happy with his answer, she asked him the question herself. There is a reason why people say that you shouldn't ask questions you don't want the answer to, and today she found out why at first hand.

Not knowing quite how to respond to Anthony's complete refusal and rejection, Veronica decided to just end the call for now. Something that Anthony had no problem with, despite not hearing Veronica's reply to his boundaries for a continuation of their 'friendship' or what was left of it. He headed back inside, while she continued her walk back home. After putting away her phone in her pocket, she just looked up at the night sky. The same night sky that Anthony had been looking at just moments before.

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Once inside Anthony headed back to the table where Rebecca was still sitting with the remaining members of his friend group. Rebecca was chatting and laughing, not looking nervous at all, just like her usual self. Anthony felt relieved seeing them like this, although he did feel a slight touch of jealousy come up along with his relief, because he didn't seem to be missed at all. Not by his friends, nor by Rebecca. The latter was what seemed to bother him the most.

When he reached the table, he placed an arm on Rebecca's shoulder, who had her back facing him. She looked up with a startle, and when she saw that it was him, she asked how it went. Anthony nodded and said, "I think it went well for what you can expect in the current situation. She listened to what I had to say. I listened to her, but more importantly, I gave her an answer she needed to hear in order to move on. It was the truth, but it was unfiltered. So, it might have been a bit harsh."

Rebecca and his friends nodded, and it was Larry who said, "Sometimes saying a few harsh words of truth, is the kinder thing to do. If it was what she needed to hear, then you did both of you a favor. Beating around the bush is hardly ever helpful in situations like this." The rest seemed to agree, and they let the topic of Veronica rest from that point on, as there was many more interesting topics to discuss and so very few hours left in the evening to discuss them.