Chapter 2I Am Not Your Keyword

My eyes stung with hot tears as I grabbed my crutches and maneuvered myself out of bed.

After a quick trip to the bathroom to wash up, I limped over to the dining table, unscrewed the insulated food jar full of homemade chicken soup, and began ladling some into a bowl.

"Don't drink that!" Harrison rushed into the dining room, his voice cracking with panic.

I froze, my hands hovering in mid-air. "This isn't for me?"

He let out a strained hum. "A friend at work is down with a bad cold, so I made it for them."

He caught himself and forced a quick smile. "I mean... if you really want some, go ahead."

Despite his smile, the reluctance in his tone was impossible to hide. Without a word, I looked down at my heavy plaster cast and set the bowl back down.

Harrison immediately screwed the lid back onto the thermos and packed up a few side dishes. Only after everything was packed did he finally turn his attention back to me.

"What do you feel like eating? I can whip up some pasta for you."

"Who's the friend?"

"Nobody you know."

"Is it a guy or a girl?"

The faint smile vanished from Harrison's face, replaced by a look of exasperation.

"What is with you today? It's just a regular friend. Are you just exhausted from all the wedding planning lately?"

I dropped it and didn't ask another question. He turned toward the kitchen to start cooking, but suddenly, his phone screen lit up.

He stared at the notification before abruptly untying his apron, grabbing the thermos, and rushing toward the front door.

"Something came up, and I have to step out for a bit," he muttered quickly over his shoulder. "Don't forget your meal."

Before I could even respond, he was gone.

He was in a desperate hurry to check on his ex-girlfriend's cold, completely unbothered by the fact that his fiancée was sitting at home with a broken leg.

A notification chimed on my phone. The boutique had processed the full cancellation of my custom wedding dress. I tapped to confirm, then ordered takeout for myself.

After finishing the meal, I grabbed a cab to the hospital to pick up my prescription. And that was when I ran straight into Harrison.

He was carrying Aurora's designer handbag in his left hand and the empty thermos in his right. The moment he spotted me, the smile instantly froze on his face, though he quickly composed himself.

"What a coincidence running into you here," he managed.

A total coincidence that we ended up at the same hospital, and a coincidence that she had just finished his chicken soup?

Aurora did not explain, merely giving me a polite smile. "Cindy, why don't you go ahead and grab your medicine? We'll wait for you outside."

She spoke with the calm poise of the lady of the house, and Harrison fell right in line, agreeing with her suggestion, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I said nothing and headed inside.

When I walked back out, habit took over, and I reached for the passenger door. Aurora looked at me with an apologetic grin.

"I'm so used to riding shotgun. Do you need me to move for you?"

Her tone was gentle, but her body language made it crystal clear she had zero intention of moving. The seat height and recline angle were adjusted so precisely it looked tailor-made for her.

Before I could say anything, Harrison pulled open the rear door. "Why don't you sit in the back?"

The whole ride, they chatted and laughed while I sat alone in the backseat. It felt like an invisible barrier was separating us, dividing the car into two entirely different worlds.

Suddenly, Harrison pulled over to the curb and bolted out of the car. Seeing me roll down my window to look, Aurora spoke up smoothly.

"Don't worry. He just ran off to buy some fresh cherries from that fruit stand."

My eyes widened, but before I could respond, Harrison came running back, his face beaming with excitement. "Aurora, look, I got them!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he seemed to remember I was sitting in the back.

"Cindy, is there anything you want? I can go..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Aurora stemmed a ripe cherry and popped it straight into his mouth.

"Aren't these amazing?"

Her index finger lingered on his lips for a brief, deliberate second before pulling away. Harrison's face instantly flushed bright red.

He stole a quick, guilty glance at me in the rearview mirror, slid into the driver's seat, and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Alright, let's get going."

Aurora sat back comfortably, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

In the rearview mirror, my expression remained neutral. When I caught Harrison's anxious, probing eyes, I let out a soft laugh.

The car lurched forward as he slammed on the gas.