His Childhood Sweetheart Tried to Kill Me

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3

On the other end, George went quiet for a second.

"That's impossible. Blossom isn't venomous. How could you be poisoned?"

"Don't give me that—"

I couldn't be bothered to listen anymore. I hung up.

Half an hour later, George showed up at the hospital with Kate.

He walked into the room, and it was as though he couldn't even see the IV still in my hand. The first thing out of his mouth was an accusation.

"On the way here I already checked with Kate. Blossom is a non-venomous pet snake. How could you possibly be poisoned?"

"Nanette, drop the little games. Stop putting on a show in front of me."

Kate clung timidly to George's arm, her eyes rimmed red, the picture of a frightened little rabbit.

"Nanette, are you saying this on purpose because you can't stand me?"

"I never meant to get in the way of the two of you. Last month I just had so much going on, that's the only reason I asked George to help look after Blossom."

"I've already taken Blossom back. Nothing like this will happen again. You don't have to come to the hospital and put on an act for George's sake."

I looked at Kate, cold.

She dressed it up as an explanation, but every line was an accusation that I was faking it. Ha.

Sure enough, her words only made George angrier.

"What gives you the right to hate Kate? Get your dirty thoughts out of your head. Kate and I grew up together. We're practically brother and sister."

"If there were really anything between Kate and me, do you think it would ever have been your turn?"

"And now you've taken the act all the way to the hospital. Nanette, your tricks really are getting more impressive by the day."

My gaze settled on George.

In that moment, this man I'd loved for three years felt like a complete stranger.

George and Kate had been neighbors. From elementary school through middle school and into high school, the two of them were almost never apart.

It wasn't until college, when Kate went abroad to study, that they lost touch.

When George and I got together three years ago, I had no idea he had this childhood sweetheart from next door.

A year ago, Kate came back.

From that day on, George's attention landed entirely on Kate.

Standing guard when she ran a fever in the middle of the night. Driving her to and from work, rain or shine. Little surprises on holidays. Small gifts from every business trip.

The moment I showed even a flicker of unhappiness, this was what waited for me:

"Can you stop reading into things? If there were really anything between her and me, do you think it would ever have been your turn?"

This time I'd been bitten by that snake and nearly died. I'd just come back from the brink, still lying in a hospital bed.

And George still chose to stand on Kate's side.

All at once, I couldn't be bothered to keep arguing with George over who was right and who was wrong.

"The doctor is right outside. If you won't believe me, you should at least believe him, shouldn't you?"

"Whether that snake is venomous or not, are you more of an authority than a doctor?"

The moment I said it, a flicker of hesitation crossed George's eyes.

Kate grabbed his arm.

"George, I'm worried Blossom will be scared home alone. I want to go back and check on it."

"And Blossom has always been so gentle. It really is just a harmless pet snake. You still don't believe me?"

The second he heard that, the flicker of hesitation vanished, and he turned to leave the room with Kate.

In that moment, my disappointment in George hit its peak.

I was done with this man.

I gripped the sheets and forced the words out.

"George, let's break up."