She’s the Obstacle, He’s the Hero, I’m Just the Plot They’re Skipping Chapter 05

She’s the Obstacle, He’s the Hero, I’m Just the Plot They’re Skipping Chapter 05

She had long curly hair, perfectly styled, and wore a beige dress with strappy nude heels.

She stepped forward, and her heels clicked sharply against the hardwood.

Under the blanket, I tried to curl my toes. I couldn’t even tell if they’d actually moved.

I used to love high heels — Ethan always said they’d ruin my back, so he got me kitten heels as a compromise, one beautiful pair after another. I couldn’t walk now, though. I hadn’t worn any of them in a long time.

Ethan was on his feet immediately, taking the coat from her.

“Thanks. I’ve got it from here.”

She tilted her head.

“This must be your girlfriend. Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Ethan’s back was to me. I couldn’t see his face, but the tension radiating off him was impossible to miss.

I put myself in his shoes, and I got it.

The woman he actually loved had just walked into the apartment of the girlfriend who just wouldn’t die fast enough.

I wouldn’t have known what to do either.

“You two talk. I’ll go to the other room.”

“This is Chloe — my new assistant.”

We spoke at the same time. We talked over each other, and we both stopped.

The silence that followed was excruciating.

Into that silence, Chloe smiled.

“Not exactly new, actually. Ethan and I have been working together for almost a year. I’m about to be promoted to Executive Assistant.”

“You should probably give us the room, Miss Hayes. I have a few work matters to go over with him.”

Her eyes stayed locked on Ethan.

His mouth tightened. After a moment, he bent down to pick me up.

I pushed him off.

“I’m fine. I can manage.”

“Could you… get me my cane? The one in the corner?”

Ethan’s head snapped up. He just stared at me.

I couldn’t meet his eyes. I knew how strange this must seem.

Since my ALS had progressed to mid-stage, I’d refused every mobility aid except the wheelchair. If I so much as saw a crutch anywhere in the apartment, I’d lose it.

Some stubborn, irrational part of me had always believed that needing a crutch on top of the wheelchair meant I was truly finished.

So whenever I needed to get up — even for a few steps — Ethan carried me.

But I was going to a nursing home soon, and it didn’t look like he was going to pay for the best one. I couldn’t expect some caregiver to be standing there every second, ready to pick me up.

I had to get used to it.

And Chloe was standing right there.

For a second, I thought I saw his eyes well up. It was too quick to be sure.

Before I could look again, something clattered against the floor. Chloe had already propped the cane by my feet.

Her manicured nails rested on the handle, catching the light. The diamond bracelet on her wrist sparkled beside them.

She really was beautiful.

[God, she’s so clingy. Just go already.]

[He doesn’t actually want to carry her — he’s just sick of how slow she is.]