He Used Me as Practice for Her Chapter 06
“Charlotte?”
Chloe reacted first.
She quickly jumped out of Ethan’s arms and hurried over to me, grabbing my hand in panic.
“Don’t misunderstand, okay? Ethan and I seriously aren’t like that. I just drank too much at the party tonight and started feeling sick, so he brought me to the hospital.”
I looked at her coolly.
“So what was the diagnosis?”
“Allergic reaction.” She lifted her arm, showing me the fading red rash on her skin.
And the bracelet dangling from her wrist.
I met her eyes.
Chloe’s lips moved silently.
He gave it to me.
I yanked my hand away.
Not far behind her, Ethan frowned immediately.
“Charlotte, what are you thinking now?” he snapped. “Chloe wasn’t feeling well. I brought a classmate to the hospital. Since when is helping someone a crime?”
“You’re right,” I said coldly. “Move.”
I shoved past them and walked into the ER with Grandma’s paperwork clenched in my hand.
“Doctor, I’m here for the patient.”
Ethan followed me inside.
The second he saw my grandmother lying in the hospital bed, he hesitated.
“Take the patient for X-rays,” the doctor instructed efficiently. “She’s elderly, so we need to check for fractures.”
I nodded immediately.
When I turned around again, Ethan had somehow found a wheelchair.
He carefully lifted Grandma into it before looking up at me.
“The X-ray department’s on the third floor. This’ll make it easier for you,” he said quietly. “And
you shouldn’t have to wait too long. I already talked to them.”
Before I could answer, Chloe’s voice floated over from behind us.
“You should stay here with Charlotte tonight,” she said softly. “I can get home myself. If she misunderstands us again, I’ll feel terrible.”
She pressed a hand to her forehead dramatically and staggered toward the exit.
Her heels clicked unevenly against the floor as she swayed with every step.
Ethan ruffled my hair lightly.
“I’m just gonna take her home first,” he said. “It’s late. She’s a girl. It’s not safe for her to go alone. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
Then he immediately ran after Chloe.
He caught up to her, supporting her by the waist as they walked toward the hospital entrance
together.
Right before disappearing outside, Chloe glanced back over her shoulder at me.
And smiled.
A smug, victorious smile.
Ethan’s version of “as soon as I can” lasted until sunrise.
After Grandma was settled into a hospital room, I sat alone outside the ward, exhausted, my eyes drifting shut.
Half asleep, I vaguely felt someone draping a blanket over my
“You awake?”
Ethan sat down beside me with a smile.
shoulders.
Instinctively, I shifted away, leaving an empty seat between us.
He stretched an arm out to pull me closer, but missed completely.
“You’re still mad?” He clicked his tongue impatiently. “How many times do I have to explain this? Chloe and I are just friends.”
“I know,” I said with a nod.
He grabbed my shoulders and forced me to look at him.
“Charlotte, I’m trying to talk to you nicely here. Can you at least listen? I have limits too.”
“There’s nothing to explain.” I smiled faintly. “Ethan, we already broke up. Did you forget?”
He let out a cold laugh, frustration flashing across his face.
“Can you stop acting like this?” he snapped. “You’re seriously this suspicious? Have you ever trusted me at all? I helped out a friend. What exactly is your problem?”
The faint lipstick stain near his collarbone stood out painfully against his skin.
Especially next to the vein pulsing in his neck.
Like it was openly mocking me.
I reached over and pressed my finger hard against the mark.
“Next time you cheat,” I said quietly, “wipe it off first.”
The defensive look on Ethan’s face disappeared instantly.
“And one more thing.” I pointed at the bracelet on his wrist. “Don’t use the bracelet I worked overtime to buy you as some cheap gift for another girl. It makes me sick.”
“It’s not what you think!” he shot back loudly, before lowering his voice again.
Then he exhaled sharply and stood up.
“Forget it. You’re obviously in a bad mood today.” He turned toward the hallway. “Calm down before we talk again.”
