The day after surgery, I went to the hospital for a dressing change.
I also asked for some burn cream–just in case the itching got unbearable.
The doctor handed me some scar–reducing ointment and smiled.
“By the way, Ms. Bennett, that sleep blend you shared with us worked wonders.”
“Thank you.”
Of course it did.
That same blend was the only reason Jordan had been able to sleep for years.
If it could cure his chronic insomnia, it had to be good.
As I was picking up my prescription, I ran into Olivia.
She smirked, that smug little smile of hers.
“You know, once you hit thirty, you really need to start watching your health,” she said sweetly.
“Jordan’s super careful–he even made me get an X–ray when I got a tiny paper cut.”
I glanced at the clear Band–Aid on her finger and laughed under my breath.
This girl really thought she was clever.
She reminded me of some discount Disney villain–wouldn’t even last three episodes in a Netflix
drama.
And right on cue-
“Why are you here?”
Of course, if Olivia was around, Jordan wasn’t far.
He looked pissed.
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I wondered what had to happen between them for him to show up with that face.
“You seriously followed us here?”
“Chloe, come on. Can you not be paranoid for once?”
In Jordan’s eyes, everything I did was emotional blackmail.
He was just the poor guy stuck tolerating my drama.
I tucked the receipt into my purse.
But he grabbed it out of my hands.
“So you are burned?”
“You were walking around like nothing happened.”
“Don’t tell me you faked all this just to get my attention.”
“Chloe, you’re an adult.”
“These fake–sick stunts of yours? Exhausting.”
His words cut deeper than the burn ever could.
To him, my pain, my silence, even my injury–were all tactics to get him to notice me.
“Jordan,” I said, staring him down,
“If you’ve got time to babysit your girlfriend’s finger,
and time to harass me at the hospital,
you should have time to sign the divorce papers.”
I’d been carrying those papers in my bag ever since I made the decision.
Just in case he was ever ready to sign.
He looked at them like they were a betrayal.
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Then coolly tore them to shreds.
“You want a divorce? Dream on.”
I smiled, gesturing at the paper bits on the floor.
“You’ll have to pick those up later. Just so you know.”
I didn’t miss the flicker of concern on Olivia’s face.
She didn’t expect that.
Still smiling, I pulled out another copy.
“Go ahead. Rip it up. I’ve got plenty.”
Jordan’s composure cracked just a bit.
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Chloe, are you done with the tantrums?”
I placed the document in his hand and walked away.
He moved to stop me.
But Olivia clung to his arm.
“Babe–uh, Jordan–look, this hospital’s promoting some kind of sleep remedy.”
“You’ve been struggling to sleep lately… maybe we should try it?”
He followed her pointing finger.
And froze.
At the corner of the hallway, behind the glass,
I saw him staring at the hospital’s poster for an herbal sleep treatment.
He didn’t move.
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Didn’t blink.
No matter how many times Olivia called his name or tugged on his sleeve.
He just stood there.
Like he’d seen a ghost.
