AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mum, Kieran wanted to moon our neighbor to ask her out,” I snitched back. Two could play this game. His mouth went slack.
“Mum, Duffy got married to Riggs to stay in America.”
Everyone went completely still. Nobody said a word. By the look on Kieran’s face, I saw that he hadn’t intended to let the cat out of the bag. It just rolled off his tongue, like all the other nonsense he spewed on a regular basis.
I lowered my gaze to my feet. Mum shoved her entire face into the camera, showing me an impressive close-up of her nostrils.
“Is this true, Daphne?”
“Yes, Mum.”
She frowned, mulling this over. “Do you love him?” Okay.Thatreaction, I did not expect.
“It’s just for show,” I reminded her, depressed. “Riggs is helping me out.”
She tilted her head. Now I had a close-up of her chin. “But do you love him?”
Ah, bugger. I couldn’t hide my emotions at all, could I?
“Yeah,” I admitted miserably. “Very much. But he doesn’t love me back.”
“Rubbish.” Tim laughed, delighted. “The man stared at you the entire weekend with worry and anxiety, like you held his balls in your pocket. He’s definitely smitten.”
But if Riggs was truly smitten, he wouldn’t be coming home every night reeking of alcohol and other women’s perfume, much to my chagrin. He wouldn’t ignore me so thoroughly. He wouldn’t move around with a disgruntled frown that made me feel like he was waiting for October 22 like it was the second coming of the Messiah Himself.
“I appreciate it, Tim, but Riggs is not like that.”
“Like what?” he boomed.“Human?”
“He doesn’t do feelings.”
“Eh, famous last words.”
But those were some of the veryfirstwords Riggs had said to me, when we made the deal. And now? I knew better than to doubt them.
Then there was Micko, who seemed to be growing by the nanosecond and spending every waking moment clawing through every single itemin my flat. The settee was already tarnished. Micko had decided to use it as her nail filer. The rest of the furniture, she just used as her bed and made sure to leave loads of hair on. In fact, Micko, being a typical cat, had decided to make every single surface in the place her bed, other than—of course—heractualbed.
I spent the vast majority of my time trying to shoo her off furniture, and the remaining time I cuddled with her, because I felt bad about limiting her sleep spots. What Ididn’tdo was apply for jobs. Somehow, I’d lost all motivation after Riggs shut me down. I told myself it was fine. That after October 22, I’d get my visa and become more attractive to employers. But deep down, worry began gnawing at my gut. I had never been so apathetic. Everything in New York reminded me of him. Without him, the city was a shell. Hollow and empty.
Riggs and I probably could have gone on like this for the remainder of the three weeks together. Him, giving me the silent treatment, and me, trying to hold my head up high and not fall apart.
We could have, but then something terrible happened.
That evening, I waited for Riggs to come home, sitting on the settee as I ogled the door. Not one to disappoint, he stumbled inside at half past six, looking disheveled, eyes glazed over. After dropping his backpack at the door, he kicked his Blundstones against the wall and headed straight to the fridge.
I stood up. I was over being punished by him for something I didn’t do. I’d made it clear BJ and I were done. If Riggs didn’t want me anymore, which he was entitled to, he should end it respectfully.
“Had a good day?” I asked politely, hands clasped behind my back.
Shrugging, he took out a can of beer from the fridge, then chugged it.
“Where’s Micko?” Riggs glanced around.
“In her litter tray, doing a poo,” I said through gritted teeth. I really didn’t care for his attitude. “We need to talk.”
“I can see.” He gave me a once-over, looking none too happy. “This’ll have to wait until I come back from Morocco, though. I got a last-minute paid-content assignment. I’m leaving tonight.”
“It’s not going to be dreadfully long.” Panic laced my voice, and I hated that I became the same small woman I was in my relationship with BJ. I promised myself to never be that person again. He’d told me about his upcoming work trip, but I must’ve penciled in the wrong date.
