The bar was packed. They’d all stayed to watch
Ethan humiliate the lovesick fool who’d called
him the wrong name. They were checking their
watches as I walked in.
<
“Damn, she actually made it in under thirty
minutes. Must’ve run every red light. Ethan’s a
legend.”
“Are girls really this shallow? Does she just care
about looks? He treats her like crap and she
still comes crawling back?”
Ethan was in his usual dark corner, half his face
hidden in shadow, looking even more like
Garrett. My heart ached as I looked at him.
Maybe my teary eyes amused him, because he
smirked.
He poured three full glasses of liquor. “Drink
these,” he said, “and I’ll forgive you.”
The light caught his face. He really did look like
Garrett stepped out of my dream. I didn’t know
why he was back. Had he and Lindsey fought
again? Did he genuinely miss me? It didn’t
matter. The tightness in my chest was almost
gone.
く
I smiled, which drew more sneers. “OMG, is she
clutching her chest from happiness? Ethan,
teach us your ways! She’s like a trained dog!”
Their cruelty didn’t bother me. I lifted the first
glass and downed it. “This one’s to me. To not
giving up.”
Boos and snickers followed. “Pathetic. He
snaps his fingers and she comes running.”
Ethan let them mock me, a smug look on his
face. I took a deep breath. The stone in my
chest shifted. I raised the second glass, looking
directly at Ethan. “This one’s to Ethan. To the
Ethan who treats me like garbage.”
The whispers turned into open laughter. “Damn,
that’s low. Seriously, some girls are into that.
Ethan, put me next in line, bro. I wanna see
what that’s like.”
Ethan frowned at them, but still let me drink.
My chest felt lighter than it ever had,
completely free, like I’d never dreamt of Garrett
The alcohol was hitting me. I grinned, my steps
unsteady. I grabbed Ethan’s hand, studying it.
His hands were smooth, no calluses from
holding a gun. I turned his hand over. There was
a faint scar on his forearm. Too faint. It didn’t
feel right. Garrett’s was deeper.
The noise around me was deafening. They were
saying I was easy, desperate for Ethan. He,
surprisingly, stopped smirking. He said softly,
“You’re drunk, Nancy. Let’s go home.” He
reached for me.
I grabbed his shirt instead, my eyes fixed on his
open collar. One last check, and I’d be free.
Under their judging, curious, and amused gazes,
I pulled his shirt wider. There it was. No mole
above his collarbone. No laser removal scar
either.
く
Ethan gasped, his voice husky. “Nancy, not
here…”
Whistles erupted. It hit me. Ethan wasn’t
Garrett. He’d served his purpose. He was no
longer the cure.
I pulled away, picking up the third glass. Ethan looked concerned, reaching out. “You can’t
drink any more. You’re drunk…”
He stopped, surprised by the clarity in my eyes.
I smiled. “This last one is for our short, messy
affair.”
I tilted the glass, the liquor spilling at his feet.
“Ethan, you played the part well. But you’re
not… my Garrett.”
I dropped the glass, the shattering sound
echoing through the bar as I walked away,
finally, from
<
Ethan’s face darkened when I mentioned
Garrett. He slammed his glass down, kicking at
a nearby heckler. “Nancy, apologize now, and I’ll let it slide.”
I surveyed the mess, then smiled. “Don’t let it
slide, Ethan. My Garrett wouldn’t. He doesn’t
throw tantrums. He goes quiet. Checks his gun.
Adds a silencer.” I mimed a pistol, aiming at
Ethan’s head. “Bang.”
A vein throbbed in his forehead. I gave him one
last look and walked out, wiping away my tears.
The chaos behind me faded.
Goodbye, Garrett. If you left so decisively, you
shouldn’t have come back to haunt me.
- 7.
Life returned to normal. Garrett stayed out of
my dreams. Sometimes, I missed the drama. Ethan sent a message through a friend. “He’s
never been that pissed. He even hung up on Lindsey to come get you. Just apologize and you’re golden.”
