I'm actually running out of chapter names and it's becoming lowkey stressful I need help ;)
-
Unwillingly, Scott tensed up. He brushed it off as soon as the feeling came over him, and hoped Christy wouldn't notice. However much they loved and helped each other, it was always like walking along eggshells around Christy.
"Yeah, I saw Rhett taking him out just before I called you. I was, well, you know, on the floor-"
Christy paused, and after a few moments of looking into the abyss, she spoke up. Her voice was raspy, but laced with urgency.
"Let's do it."
"Christy, love-"
"We waited to damn long," she exhaled. "If he's there, we can get 'im." Christy sunk her teeth into her bottom lip whilst Scott sat, stunned. All too suddenly Scott was taken back, but luckily Christy was still facing away and didn't see. He knew what Christy wanted to do to Link. And as the opportunity was there, of course she would take it. Scott knew he was stupid for thinking otherwise.
"Rhett will be there though," he coughed, covering up his shaky voice. Good one, he thought.
"I managed to make this story of mine go on for months, and people are still stupidly enthralled by it, honey. I can change minds. I think I can get past one guy, Scott," Christy replied. Her tone showed her growing frustration, but something was making Scott keep pushing her. Maybe it was the refused eye contact between them, but he wasn't sure. Something was making him defend Link, and he was letting it fully happen.
"But wouldn't it be better to wait-"
Christy shot towards her apprehensive husband and glared at him with her large, blue glistening eyes. She didn't wait for him to finish, and was confused as to why Scott was not on board like he seemed all the months before.
"Why don't you want me to go?" Christy asked sternly, not leaving any room for reasoning. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
This wasn't the first time Scott and Christy ended up conflicted in this way. But unlike with Link, Christy managed to always forgive him. She put it down to Scott's handsome looks and charming personality which according to her, Link lost right after the rings were exchanged. She only said that after they officially split.
Scott took Christy's reluctant hand into his and held onto it, rubbing his thumb over her madly expensive ring that she fell in love with on first sight. They went without food or heating for over a week just so they could afford it.
"Don't you think it's just... not worth it?" Scott began, wondering if he should continue. "I mean, look around you babe. You have this apartment, countless TV deals ready for you, stability, comfort... and look, even me... is it worth risking all this just to see his face one more time? To just complain at what he did to you in the past?"
The entire apartment, and probably the whole apartment block came to a halt, as Christy went word by word through Scott's speech which drew her ideas to different, unexpected places. Meanwhile, Scott was only realising what was underneath everything he let out.
There was no doubt Scott wasn't happy with what Link did to Christy. He tormented her, and as a husband rightfully would, if he was able he would've done to Link exactly what Rhett did to himself. He would've told Christy to storm in and take Link away, and do whatever she pleased because she was his queen, and the most important girl in the world.
But everything changed as Scott walked through the door of room 403 and saw Link Neal for the first time.
***
"He's at your hospital?" Christy perked up, listening to her new boyfriend's news as he came home from work.
"J'was just checking through patient files and there he was... Charles Lincoln Neal, Third, right?"
Hearing the name made Christy curse under her breath, but she returned back to Scott with a toothy grin. She didn't answer the second part.
"And he's on the list for patient therapy?"
Scott nodded, and didn't know what to expect from Christy. A look of happiness, disgust, or even sadness. But a few seconds later, Scott could tell Christy had an idea pop into her head.
"Hey, baby, do you mind if I ask you a favour-"
***
"You hate this man. You hate this man," Scott repeated under his breath, following behind his co-worker Charlotte towards room 403. He had never visited this area of the hospital either, so he was very on edge, clicking the pen slid into his pocket repeatedly. His lime green clipboard was tucked under his arm, and he was ready to see the nasty work that lead Christy to tears, and try to gain his trust.
That was Christy's request.
Charlotte let him inside, and Scott couldn't finish saying 'man' before laying eyes on the curious, dazed, but stunning Link staring up at him. And the last thing he could repeat whilst staring at him was the words he said on the way to the room.
"How can anyone hate this man?"
***
Christy still didn't know.
"I'll go on my own," she finally said, taking her hand away from Scott's and looking back out of the tall window again. "I'll get my ol' man, with my own arms. I'll take him to the forest, right by Merry Street. And Scott, you'll be there."
Christy picked herself up from the white leather couch, and grabbed her glass of wine and phone from the opposite coffee table. Scott watched her actions speechless.
"I'm going to bed. You can join me, but I expect you won't want to now."
Scott didn't watch her from behind as she headed to the shared bedroom, and disappearing out of view.
The way she said "You'll be there" was so cold, and so demanding, Scott almost second guessed why he was still in the same apartment with that woman. And it hit him like a pile of bricks. A heavy, painful pile of bricks.
He could feel what Link felt.
