The Fifth Wheel In My Own Relationship

Chapter 3

The next morning, when I wheeled my suitcase out of the bedroom, Jimmy was sitting in the dining room eating breakfast.

There were two servings of fried eggs and toast on the table.

At the sight of my suitcase, he paused with his knife over his egg. Surprise flickered in his eyes, but indifference quickly replaced it.

"You're actually leaving?" He took a sip of coffee, his tone casual.

"Yes." I didn't add anything else. I went straight to the entryway to change my shoes.

"I'm warning you, Fiona." Jimmy set down his knife and fork and turned to face me as I stood with my back to him. "If you walk out that door today, don't expect it to be easy to come back."

He was still certain I was just playing hard to get.

He thought that if he stood his ground, I'd put down my suitcase and come back to hug him with tears in my eyes, just as I had countless times before.

I put on my flats and rested a hand on the door handle. "I left the keys on the shoe cabinet."

Then I pressed down on the handle. The latch clicked, and I pushed the door open.

A chair scraped harshly across the floor behind me. Jimmy seemed to have stood up.

But I didn't turn around. I walked out and closed the door behind me.

After leaving my luggage at a budget hotel near the office, I took a taxi to the bridal boutique.

The ceremony gown I'd tried on three times and had altered twice was still hanging in the display window.

When I pushed open the glass door, the manager came over to greet me warmly.

"Miss Gallagher, you're here! Mr. Lishman is already waiting inside."

I froze. 'Mr. Lishman? What is Jimmy doing here?'

I looked in the direction the manager indicated.

Jimmy was sitting on the sofa outside the private fitting room, looking down at his phone.

Just then, the fitting room curtain slid open.

Monica stepped out, gathering up the skirt of the elaborate white ceremony gown that was supposed to be mine.

"Jimmy, what do you think of this one?" She turned in a circle, a bashful smile lighting up her face.

Jimmy looked up. As his gaze settled on her, his eyes lit with admiration.

"It's beautiful." He stood and went over to her, carefully straightening the lace at her shoulder. "It fits you perfectly, too."

"But this is the one Fi reserved." Monica bit her lip, looking hesitant. "If she finds out I tried on her wedding dress, she'll get upset again."

"It's fine," Jimmy said gently. "Hers was too plain. It didn't suit her. This cut does more for your figure. I'll have the manager find her a new one in a minute."

I stood quietly behind a display rack a short distance away, watching them.

I didn't rush over to demand an explanation, or take out my phone to photograph them as proof.

I just found it a little funny.

I'd stayed up late for 3 nights, comparing gowns at more than a dozen stores before choosing that one.

I'd eaten nothing but diet meals for an entire month so I could fit into it.

Now, with a few careless words, Jimmy had given it to Monica.

"Miss Gallagher?" Puzzled that I hadn't gone over, the manager followed my gaze. She immediately looked embarrassed. "Well... Mr. Lishman said Miss Hayes wanted to try on bridesmaid dresses. Perhaps she picked up the wrong one by mistake..." she tried to explain.

"It's all right," I interrupted calmly. I took the rental agreement I'd signed out of my bag and held it out to her. "I'm here to cancel my order."

The manager stared at me, then at the agreement, then at Jimmy across the room.

"Cancel? But the wedding is next month. If you cancel now, we can't refund your deposit."

"I know." I nodded. "That's fine. Please go ahead and process the cancellation."

Although the manager had lowered her voice, she'd still caught their attention.

Jimmy turned and saw me. His expression darkened at once, and he strode toward us.

Monica followed carefully, holding up the skirt.

"Did you follow me?" Jimmy stopped in front of me and looked down at me with undisguised disgust.

"I'm canceling the dress rental." I pointed to the agreement in the manager's hands.

Jimmy gave a cold laugh, clearly not believing a word.

"Fiona, this act is getting old. Last night you threatened to run away, and today you're here to cancel your dress rental. Do you have to wear everyone out dealing with your drama before you're satisfied?" He pointed at Monica behind him. "Monica thought the dress was pretty and wanted to try it on. That's all. Did you have to make such a big deal out of it and come here to cause a scene?"

Monica stood behind him, her eyes filling with tears again.

"Fi, I'm sorry. I was only trying it on. I'll take it off right now and give it back. Please don't fight with Jimmy." She reached for the zipper at her back, looking utterly wounded.

"You don't have to take it off." I looked at her, my voice steady. "You can have it."