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“Have a good day, Husband,” I purred and flounced out of his office.
Before the door clicked shut, I heard him groan loudly and knew he would be ticking down the minutes until dinner time. He might even leave work early.
I didn’t see Bethany on my way out and thanked the Lord above. I couldn’t deal with her brand of crazy.
It was there, when I hit the sidewalk with a smile on my face, that I remembered Bethany’s good fortune. My smile dropped and my chest tightened. My eyes felt wet, and I reached up to touch them, realizing I was crying.
I rushed to my car as quick as I could. Once I knew I was safe inside the vehicle, I let out the sob that had been bubbling underneath my skin. Another followed. And another, until I was holding onto the steering wheel like it was my anchor, screaming into the abyss. I knew I needed help. These waves of grief ebbed and flowed. They came on and left leaving me feeling used and broken. I needed to talk to someone but didn’t want to go to counseling.
As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t bring myself to speak to my mother. I lost count of the number of times I picked up my phone out of obligation, but then dropped it. I couldn’t bear to face her disappointment. I knew she was hurting, and none of this was her fault, but if she told me how sad she was for me and the loss of my baby, I feared I wouldn’t be able to withstand it.
Instead, I drove to a coffee shop and got a hot latte. Then, I parked my car at our apartment and headed to the park. It was a beautiful day and I wanted to enjoy it.
I sipped my coffee while sitting at the bench, watching people. A mom and her child came to play on the swings, and my eyes were riveted on them. Her daughter had long blonde curls and a missing tooth in her smile. I imagined another girl in her place with dark curls and a gappy grin. My fucking heart felt like it was lying on the ground, bleeding out. I ached in places I never knew could ache.
It was as if I was in some kind of loop. One minute I was up, and the entire world was at my feet, and the next, I was down wishing God hadn’t taken my baby. What good was I if I couldn’t bring children into the world?
For the first time in my life, I felt like I had nothing to offer. That thought more than anything else frightened me beyond any beating Luke doled out. I was worthless. Soon everyone would know, and I couldn’t hide anymore.
Chapter Seven
Logan
It had been a long, tiring day, especially since I had to stay late into the evening due to new international clients, but I had Hana to look forward to when I got home. As I gathered my things to leave for the night, I imagined her naked and waiting for me in my bed, just as I demanded—just as she promised.
Sure, Joseph may have tagged along, but I could control myself there. I would temper my anger around him. I couldn’t say that knowing Joseph wanted Hana didn’t fuck with my head. The way he looked at her made the blood beneath my skin boil. Yet…
I had to stop thinking about it. I had to move along. For Hana.
Besides it’s not like Joseph actually fucked her.As if I would allow that.No, his pierced cock was mine to control for the moment despite the mishap from this morning. Who knew when Joseph would decide this entanglement wasn’t for him? Then I’ll have a heartbroken wife and a dead-to-me friend. Our friendship was strained as it was. If not for him shoving his dick in my mouth earlier, I would have thought he still hated me.
I couldn’t believe Joseph. When he almost slapped me in the face with his cock, I was shook. When did he get a piercing? Why did he go without me? That was the kind of shit we did together back when we were best friends.
It felt like there were things about Joseph I didn’t know, but I wasn’t going to ask either. My focus had to be Hana. She was my wife and I wanted to make her happy. So, I’d tolerate Joseph. For now.
I walked out of my office and down the hall, running into Bethany on my way. Why the fuck was she still even here?
“Oh, Logan?” She called when I tried to walk around her.
“Do you not want this job, Bethany?”
“Mr. Cartwright, I mean. Sorry.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.” I tried brushing her off, but when I stepped left, she mirrored my movement. When I stepped right, she also moved in front of me. Back and forth this dance went until I finally grabbed ahold of her shoulders.
“What can I do for you?” I asked, steadying her with my hands.
“Have you spoken to your parents after everything that’s happened?” Bethany wrung her hands in front of her.
“I’m not sure that’s any of your business,” I snapped. Bethany had been a means to an end. Now that Luke had met his, I had no further use for her.
She placed a quivering hand on her belly. “They have some questions for you.”
I glanced into her eyes looking for any kind of lie, but I didn’t see any. “It isn’t mine, that’s for sure.” I knew it was Luke’s or another man with a fat wallet she was following after.
“That’s not exactly the story your parents believe.” She batted her lashes at me like lying about the father of her child wasn’t a despicable thing to do.
“I’m not doing this with you, Bethany. I am happily married.” I moved to leave, but she trailed her hands up my chest and pushed closer.
