He Promised To Be My Right Ear But Failed Chapter 07

He Promised To Be My Right Ear But Failed Chapter 07

Nolan took my bag like it weighed nothing.

“How’s the ringing in your right ear today?”

I touched my ear.

“A little better than the last few days.”

Miles was standing behind me. His voice went cold.

“Audrey, who is he?”

I glanced back.

“My audiology specialist.”

Nolan nodded at him.

“Hi.”

Miles didn’t respond.

His eyes dropped straight to Nolan’s hand on my bag.

“Since when does a rehab specialist carry your bag?”

Nolan smiled.

“Just helping.”

Miles turned to me.

“You’re just letting some guy you barely know carry your stuff?”

Blair had shown up in white, taken my corsage, and rewritten my vows.

He told me I was being petty.

But Nolan picked up my bag, and suddenly that was where Miles drew the line.

“Miles, that’s not your call anymore.”

His face stiffened.

Blair spoke up from beside him.

“Miles, let’s go. Audrey has company now.”

Miles shot her a look.

“Leave.”

Blair’s face fell.

I didn’t stick around. I walked into the adjustment room with Nolan.

Through the glass, I could see Miles still standing in the corridor.

When the session was over, Nolan handed me the printout.

“From now on, if someone stands on your right and speaks quietly, you should be able to catch a little more.”

I went still.

He smiled.

“Knowing how to hear again also means knowing when to walk away.”

I folded the sheet and tucked it into my bag, then thanked him.

When I came out, Miles was waiting. His voice was hoarse.

“Let me drive you home.”

“I’m good.”

“Audrey, all I’m asking for is one dinner.”

I checked the time.

“I already have plans.”

Miles’s eyes flicked to Nolan. Nolan read the room and stepped back.

“I’ve got patients to see. You two can talk.”

Once Nolan was gone, Miles spoke.

“How well do you know him?”

“Not that well.”

“Then why are you making plans with him?”

I looked up.

“I didn’t say my plans were with him.”

That landed. Miles went quiet.

My mom texted. Dinner was ready.

Miles caught my wrist.

“Audrey.”

This time, his grip was barely there.

“I didn’t think you’d actually go through with it.”

I looked at him.

“You thought I wouldn’t dare.”

He was silent.

I said it for him.

“You thought I couldn’t leave you.”

He swallowed.

“I did. I thought that. But I know I was wrong.”

The words came out too fast, like a bandage slapped over something that needed stitches.

I didn’t answer.

Miles’s eyes were rimmed red.

“That umbrella. You told me once the canopy was so white it looked like snow.”

My fingers curled into my palm.

He saw it. Something soaked behind his eyes.

“I’ll go back to the way we were.”

I kept my voice low.

“Miles, people change.”

He answered too fast.

“I’ll go back to how I was.”

I shook my head.

“Some things, once they break, stay broken.”

The car pulled up. I opened the door and got in.

Miles was still standing outside. He held the new umbrella through the door.

“It’s going to rain.”

I glanced out the window.

The sky was gray, ominous and heavy.

I didn’t reach for it.

I pulled a plain black folding umbrella from my bag, ordinary and lightweight.

Miles’s hand hung in the air.

As the window rolled up, the first drop of rain hit the glass.

Miles was still standing there, holding the new umbrella against the rain.

No one had taken it.