Chapter 3I Am Not Your Keyword

After dropping Aurora off, Harrison rushed to explain, "Don't take it to heart. She just loves making jokes."

"Do you even remember you're getting married?" I asked bluntly.

Harrison's face darkened slightly, and he fell silent. I turned to look out the window, my mind drifting back.

Harrison and Aurora used to be the quintessential golden couple. Back in college, they were star students who did debate together, won competitions together, and traveled together.

But they were both too stubborn, caught in an endless cycle of fighting, making up, and fighting again. By the time they graduated, real-world pressures drove them to break up.

Harrison wept as if his whole world had collapsed. I had never seen a grown man break down like that, so I got off the bus and pulled my beanie over his head.

I ran off before he could react, and we didn't cross paths again until more than a year later. Exchanging numbers felt natural, and eventually, we started dating.

Everything was calm and sweet. No wild drama or heart-wrenching pain. And that, apparently, was why he found it boring.

"Don't overthink it," he said, his tone turning cold and defensive. "Nothing happened between Aurora and me."

I met his eyes in the rearview mirror and asked calmly, "That friend with the cold... It was her, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Harrison admitted bluntly. "She was sick, so I stopped by to take care of her. That's all."

He looked away, pulling up a thick emotional wall between us.

Except I wasn't the one inside it.

The rest of the drive passed in silence. When we arrived home, I waited outside the garage for him. All the walking today had made my fractured leg throb, and I hoped he would give me a hand.

When Harrison came out, he scooped me up and carried me on his back. Exhausted, I leaned against his shoulder and closed my eyes.

His phone chimed right then. Before tapping on the message, he hesitated and tested the waters.

"Cindy?"

I didn't answer, keeping my eyes closed.

Harrison breathed a sigh of relief and opened the chat. It turned out Aurora had sent him a photo of herself in a skimpy bikini.

Aurora: [How does this look? Thinking about posting it on Insta.]

Harrison's breathing suddenly grew heavy.

[Don't post that!]

[Why not?]

Harrison's grip on my thigh tightened slightly.

[Because I'm your man.]

[Now you remember. But you're getting married!]

Harrison didn't reply.

The elevator doors opened. He unlocked our apartment door gently and set me down on the couch, then rushed straight to his study to check if Aurora had posted the picture.

He was fully oblivious to my tear-rimmed eyes and the damp patch left on the back of his shirt where my tears had soaked through.

Two hours later, he finally came out looking refreshed and relieved. Seeing that I was awake, he walked over and patted my head.

"What do you want for lunch?"

"A burger is fine."

I shifted and pulled his arm down. Harrison blinked, his gaze falling on my bare hand.

"Where's your engagement ring?"

I had taken it off right after waking up from the crash.

"It gets in the way when I shower."

"Did you put it somewhere safe? You can't just leave an engagement ring lying around."

"Is the ring really that important?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course, it's important. It's the symbol of our engagement."

Yet just moments ago, he had been flirting with another woman. When I stayed quiet, he took a deep breath and took my hands in his.

"Cindy, you need to have faith in us," he said sanctimoniously. "You're the only one I've ever wanted to marry."

But that didn't stop him from keeping his ex on a leash. Staring at him, I itched to ask if he ever got tired of playing both sides.

After lunch, I went to the bedroom to pack my things. When I came out, Harrison was throwing on a jacket, getting ready to leave.

"Where are you heading?" I asked.

"A college reunion get-together." As if worried I would suspect something, he added, "Do you want to come along?"

"Yes." I met his stunned gaze and offered a faint smile. "I'm coming with you."

This was the first time I had ever insisted on joining him for a party, and he looked far from thrilled.

Outside the restaurant, Aurora came out to greet him. The moment she saw me standing beside him, her expression froze, though she quickly recovered with a bright smile.

"Cindy! So glad you could make it!"

"Thanks."

My eyes drifted to her outfit: a powder-blue knit dress. I turned to look at Harrison, who was wearing a matching shirt. Even their watches were from the same luxury brand.

Standing next to them, I felt like the third wheel.

As we reached the private dining room, someone instantly jumped up. "Harrison! I heard you're getting married. When did you and Aurora get back together?

"Can't believe you kept it a secret from us! After all this back and forth, you've finally found your way back to each other."

Harrison went rigid as a board.

Aurora, on the other hand, didn't bat an eye. She even turned around to look at me, eager to see if my face would crack.