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Home / Romance Short Story / My Boyfriend's Plus-One Problem / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of My Boyfriend's Plus-One Problem: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

13 Chapters

Chapter 1

I turned and walked away.Henry froze, then ran after me and grabbed my wrist."Sarah, seriously? Is this really that big a deal? It's one room. Why are you making such a fuss?"I pulled free. "One room? Did you even ask me first?""What was there to ask? Jenny went to college with us. It's not safe for a girl to stay alone in a hotel. What's wrong with sharing for one night? She doesn't even need a bed. She can sleep on the couch."I stared at him. His face suddenly felt unfamiliar."Then why didn't you tell me when you booked it? Why not before we got in the car? You waited until we got here to tell me we'd be sharing one room. Henry, what do you take me for?""I just didn't want you to overthink it."He frowned—the same look he always gave me when he thought I was being unreasonable."You always do this. You turn every little thing into a huge issue. Jenny's just getting a ride and crashing in our room. Do you really have to make it into something more?""I'm making it int

Chapter 2

They sat by the window with a steaming pot of fish stew between them.The place was called Sourstone Kitchen. I'd had it saved on Google Maps for three months.I'd told Henry at least five times I wanted to try their fish stew. He always said we would, but every weekend came with a new excuse. Too far. Too expensive. Too crowded. Next time.There was never a next time.But there he was, laughing with Jenny across from him as they shared fish stew and dipped bread into the broth.I stood outside for ten seconds, then pushed open the door."How many?""One."The hostess seated me at the table beside theirs, separated by a narrow aisle.As I sat down, Henry looked up and saw me.He froze. The fish on his fork slipped back into the pot.Jenny followed his gaze. Her smile tightened for half a second, then settled into that sweet, innocent look.I didn't look at either of them. I picked up the menu and ordered.While I waited, I scrolled through my phone. Henry kept watching me

Chapter 3

I leaned against the doorframe and looked at her."Go ahead.""Can I come in?""You can say it here."She bit her lip."Sarah, I'm really sorry about today. I didn't know you'd mind this much. Nothing's going on between Henry and me. I just wanted to save money by catching a ride. I feel awful that you two fought because of me. Please don't blame Henry. This is all my fault."Her eyes were red.Then I noticed her shoulder bag wasn't fully zipped. The corner of a small square box stuck out.Ultra-thin.Jenny noticed where I was looking. She glanced down, zipped her bag shut, and panic flashed across her face before that sweet, helpless look came back."Sarah, it's not what you think. It's mine. It has nothing to do with Henry.""You don't have to explain. It has nothing to do with me.""So... you're really not mad at Henry? Could you get back together? I can tell he's pretty upset.""Henry and I are over. He's not part of my life anymore. Whatever's going on between you two

Chapter 4

He looked at me, something unreadable on his face."Do you have to talk like that?""How should I talk? Congratulate you?"The elevator dinged at the lobby.I walked out."Sarah."I kept going.The lobby was packed. People checked in with suitcases while others sat on the couches with coffee.I slipped through the crowd and out the revolving doors.May sunlight hit hard. I squinted, stopped outside, and took a deep breath.The air smelled like gardenias.My phone buzzed.It was Zoe, my coworker.[Sarah, you're on vacation, right? Why haven't you posted anything?][Didn't feel like it.]Another message popped up.[You and Henry okay? Don't tell me you're fighting.]I typed a few words, then deleted them.In the end, I sent:[We broke up.]Zoe replied with three question marks, then called right away."What happened? Wasn't he taking you on vacation? How did you end up breaking up?""He brought a girl from our old college and expected the three of us to share one ho

Chapter 5

My eyes filled with tears.Not because of Henry.Because of what his mom said."Mrs. Dolan, please don't say that. This isn't your fault.""Will you still come over for dinner sometime? I'll make those baked ribs you love."I couldn't answer.If I opened my mouth, I knew I'd cry."Okay, I won't keep you. Enjoy the rest of your trip. And don't let this get you too down. If you need anything, call me."After we hung up, I sat there until I'd finished the whole pot of tea.By then, it was cold. Even more bitter.A little after four, I went back to the hotel, packed, and checked out early.I'd booked three nights. After some back-and-forth with the front desk, they only charged me for one canceled night.I didn't want to stay.It was a nice city.Silverbrook was nice.The fish stew was good.But I just wanted to go home.***On the express train home, I leaned against the window and watched the view blur past.Fields gave way to more fields. Mountains rose in the distanc

Chapter 6

I crashed on Zoe's couch for three days.For those three days, I did nothing. While she was at work, I stayed curled up on the couch, watching TV.On the fourth morning, right before work, Zoe tossed a key into my lap."I asked around. There's a one-bedroom open downstairs. The landlady's nice. Want to check it out?"I rolled over, staring at the key in my hand.Zoe crouched beside the couch, suddenly serious."Sarah, you're not hiding from Henry. You're hiding from yourself. You still need a place. You still need to work. Your life still has to keep moving. Henry's not worth a damn. He doesn't get to keep you stuck on my couch forever."I closed my hand around the key."Okay."The apartment was on the seventh floor.No elevator.South-facing.Around four hundred square feet. One bedroom, a living room, and a tiny balcony.Sunlight poured through the balcony doors, warming the scuffed wood floor.Mrs. Harper, the landlady, was in her sixties, with gray hair and bright eye

Chapter 7

I gripped my phone, quiet for a few seconds."Is it bad?""He broke his leg. He's at the hospital.""I'm not going.""Sarah—""Jenny, whatever you and Henry have going on isn't my problem. He has you. He doesn't need me.""But Henry—""Anything else? Because I'm hanging up."I ended the call.Afterward, I sat at my desk, fingers on the keyboard, not typing a thing.Braxton glanced over from across the office.I kept my eyes down.Half an hour later, my phone rang again.Henry.I stared at his name for way too long before picking up."Sarah."His voice sounded rough. Not so cocky now."Yeah?"A long pause."Can you come see me?"Whenever Henry got sick, I used to freak out.A 100.4 fever? I'd drag him to the ER for an IV. A cold? I'd make hot lemon tea. Once, he had a stomach bug and couldn't stop throwing up, so I spent all night on the bathroom floor, wiping his mouth every time.Back then, I called that love.Now I saw it for what it was: me giving everything w

Chapter 8

He handed me the bag."Which way are you headed?""Near Riverside Road.""That's on my way."We walked side by side, our shadows stretching and shrinking under the streetlights."What do you do now?" he asked."Copywriter. Ads. You?""Architect.""Where?""Aureport. I'm just back to handle something. I leave again next week.""Oh."After a while, he spoke again."I heard you and Henry broke up."I slowed down."How'd you know?""Someone said it in our high school group chat. Your ex took some girl on a long weekend trip, and you caught them."Wow. News traveled fast."Yeah. We broke up.""Good."I looked at him.He kept his eyes on the road. His profile was sharp now, nothing like the shy high school boy who used to walk around hunched over."Luke.""Yeah?""Were you into me in high school?"He stopped walking.Under the streetlight, he turned to face me. The warm glow flashed across his glasses, hiding his eyes.A few seconds passed."Yeah.""Why didn't you

Chapter 9

He stepped back, waved, and walked away.I stood there until he disappeared around the corner.Then I looked down and opened the box.Inside was a small silver bird brooch, wings spread wide.Under it was a neatly folded note.I opened it.One sentence, written in careful handwriting.[Sarah, spring is here. Time for you to start over too.]I stood under the streetlight so long the security guard peeked out at me more than once.Finally, I pinned the brooch to my collar, folded the note in my palm, and went upstairs.That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling.My phone lit up.Luke.[If you ever come to Aureport, I'll take you out for the best authentic avgolemono.]I replied, [Aureport has avgolemono?]He sent back a smiley.I set my phone by my pillow and rolled over.***Henry got out of the hospital.Zoe told me.She had a friend who worked as a nurse in the ortho ward at VitalCare Hospital."I heard he made a whole scene when he left," Zoe said over the p

Chapter 10

About six weeks later, I went back home.Mom called and said she missed me, so I said yes and booked a weekend ticket.My hometown was tiny. After the train from the city, I still had a two-hour bus ride.Mom was waiting at the station in a red T-shirt, her hair dyed jet-black."You lost weight."Always the first thing out of her mouth."I didn't. I actually gained two pounds.""Good. That's good."When we got home, Dad was in the kitchen making dinner.A pot of cream soup simmered on the stove, filling the house with a rich, warm smell."Dad."He glanced back."You're home? Go wash your hands. Dinner's ready."There were four dishes on the table: a tomato-feta omelet, herb-roasted pork, sautéed zucchini, and cream soup.Mom loaded my plate until it nearly spilled over, then kept going."Mom, I can't eat all this.""Then take your time."Dad ate a few bites, then suddenly asked, "You and Henry broke up?"My fork froze."Yeah.""Good."He grabbed another slice of po

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