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My phone alarm goes off only a few hours later. I pry my eyes open to find that six a.m. is already here. I groan as I sit up. Checking my phone, I see I still have no service. What the hell is going on?
I crawl out of bed and make my way to the hallway bathroom so I can shower before I get dressed for work.
Standing under the too-hot water, I lather my hair in my cinnamon and citrus scented shampoo, washing out the stench of the bar. After a moment, I rinse my hair to apply the conditioner. I let it sit for several minutes while I do a full body shave, guiding the razor up my legs, when I feel the shower door open. I stiffen, abruptly turning around to find Andy stark naked.
“What in the actual fuck do you think you are doing, Andy?” I scream when he tries to wrap his arms around me.
“Come on, Had. I’ve missed you.” He tries to turn his charm on, but unfortunately for him, it’s not working for me at the moment.
“No! Get out! If sleeping in a different room hasn’t clued you in, I’m not interested in being close to you right now!”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass if you aren’t interested. You’re mywife, and you will do as you’re told,” he snarls.
“I’m fairly certain that doing what I was told is what got us to this place, so I’m going to pass,” I sass back at him.
Without another word, I go to turn from Andy, hoping he gets the hint. That’s when he grabs my wrist and spins me to face him. His arm winds back with an open palm, and he slaps me with a loud crack across the face. The harsh sting against my wet skin is so painful, my face jerks sharply to the side from the force.
I stand there in shock, not saying anything. His retreating form through the shower and then the bathroom doors is the last thing I see before I collapse onto the tile floor, tears stinging my eyes. I sit in silence, the scalding water prickling my skin as quiet sobs take over.
I make it to school only twenty minutes later than originally planned. A heavy layer of makeup covers the red mark. I’m not upset with how it turned out after watching a quick YouTube video on how to cover a red mark on the skin. Apparently, green concealer under my normal concealer does a hell of a job of covering the discoloration. Hopefully, I iced it long enough that the swelling doesn’t become too noticeable throughout the day.
As I walk toward the entrance of the building, a text notification sounds. I pull out my phone to check before starting my day.
Connor:
Heya, mo ghrá, I’m glad you’re OK. I was worried when I didn’t hear from you last night. Meet me at the office after work. We can get dinner.
I smile at the screen.This man is my everything.
I gasp aloud at the realization. When did that happen? I can’t be this far gone for him, can I?
Hadley:
I will let you know when I get out of here. The fifth shot of Jameson at Kat’s insistence was the wrong move. I’m barely holding it together right now.
I feel guilty instantly. I’m not lying, yet an omission of the full truth is lying, isn’t it?
Another message dings.
Connor:
Come over. I’ll take care of you tonight, beautiful.
I don’t respond; instead, I walk inside and get to the classroom I’ll be in today. The kids aren’t here yet, so I set my things down and sit behind the desk and get lost in my thoughts about this morning and the assault I endured.
Where did the monster in my shower come from and what happened to the man I married? He’s never been like this before.Andy had never laid a finger on me in all the years we’d been together until now.
I’m torn from my thoughts when a commotion erupts as the kids pass through the classroom door and see me.
“Mrs. James, you’re back!” one of the kids, a sweet blonde girl named Haley, squeals.
Chuckling at her excitement, I respond. “Of course I’m back. I told y’all I’d be popping in and out of your classes throughout the year when anyone needs a sub.”
“Yay! We’re so glad to have you back!” another one shouts from the back of the room.
The day goes on without a hitch. When the last bell rings, I walk into the bathroom and check my face. It’s not as swollen as I expected, and that brings a smile, albeit a sore one, to my face. I pull my phone out of my pocket and respond to the text I’ve been avoiding all day.
Hadley:
