Chapter 3
The woman kept waving her hands, trying to refuse, but I gently guided her to my seat.]
you know.” “Please, sit. I’m used to sitting all the time anyway–I could use the break. Just rest, and if I get tired standing, I’ll let
The woman looked at me, and tears she’d been holding back finally started falling.
She wiped her hands on her clothes, trying to clean off the sticky limoncello residue, then grabbed my hand.[]
“Sweetheart, I don’t have much money on me. I know I can’t repay this kindness with cash, but I promise my husband’ll thank you properly.“]
I gave her a polite smile and headed toward the connecting car area.
Partly because I didn’t want she feeling guilty about me hovering around, and partly because I was sick of looking at Nina’s pathetic act.[]
I’d given up MY OWN seat.
I figured even with Nina’s dramatic tendencies, surely nothing could go wrong this time.[]
But after just two stops, chaos erupted in the car again.
Before I could figure out what was happening, Carter found me in the connecting area and dragged me back by the wrist.[]
“Vivian, that’s your seat so you get to decide. Tell me do you want Nina sitting in your seat or that disgusting old hag?“]]
I looked over at Nina, who was now in my seat clutching her stomach and wailing.
“Carter, it hurts so bad… I’m dying…”
Carter didn’t even wait for my answer. He started shoving the woman who was sitting in my original seat.[]
“What are you still doing here? Get up! Can’t you see my friend’s in pain? She needs to lie down. Move it, move it now!“]]
The woman rubbed her knee and looked in my direction. Carter immediately pushed her harder.[]
“What are you looking at? That’s my girlfriend! I speak for her! Get up! I’m telling you, my patience has limits–don’t make me get physical!“[]
After eight years of dating Carter, he’d never fought for me like this. Never shown this kind of fierce protectiveness.
Thinking about how he’d killed me and my unborn child, I shoved him away from the woman.[]
“Who told you that you speak for me? This is my seat, and I decide who sits in it. Today, this seat belongs to this lady! Nobody’s taking it from her!“[]
Carter stared at me in complete shock.
“Vivian, are you out of your goddamn mind? She’s just some random stranger we met on a train, and now you’re fighting me over a seat for her?“]
“Let me correct you, Carter. I’m not fighting you for a seat. This seat was MINE.”
Carter’s mouth twisted into a mocking smirk.]
“Vivian, playing word games is pathetic. Can’t you see Nina’s in pain? She just wants to lie down for a bit!”
“If she wants to lie down, she can upgrade to a sleeper car. This is coach–no lying down here.”
“Seriously? Again with this shit? Vivian, can you stop acting like a total psycho every time Nina’s involved? I’ve told you a million times–WE’RE JUST FRIENDS. Can you stop being so damn paranoid?[]
