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He’s visiting from Kansas City. And I think if Aaron Blue Eyes buys me one more drink, I could work up the nerve to suggest he invite me to his hotel room. There’s also my room that I paid for in cash so my psycho stalker “husband” can’t find me with a credit card transaction, but I think it would be better if it’s his room because then I can leave when it’s all over and go back to my own room. I already bought condoms in the hotel gift shop and they’re in my bag.
He says he’s here on business. I lied and told him I was, too. He remarked that my wedding rings are beautiful. My reaction to that had him asking me if my marriage was in trouble. I told him my marriage was nothing but trouble. That it was a marriage of inconvenience. He laughed and we clinked glasses as he told me this was why he was a confirmed bachelor. If only I’d used my hall pass on Aaron Blue Eyes.
I’m going to undo the top two buttons of my blouse, take my hair down from this ponytail and up my flirting game.
But maybe first I’ll call my psycho stalker “husband” and tell him that I’m going to cheat on him tonight.
Yeah, that’s exactly what I’ll do. Letting him know what I’m about to do before I do it should make it even more impactful. Maybe this will get me my life back. If it doesn’t, maybe it’ll at least let him feel some modicum of the agony he’s been putting me and the people I care about through.
On my quest for a payphone, I find a courtesy phone in the lobby of the hotel. I don’t know if it’ll work to block my location, but figuring it’s worth a try, I press *67 and then punch in Derek’s cell phone number.
He blackmailed me into cheating on my fiancé by making me break the rules. Maybe if I do this, he’ll realize actions have consequences. And maybe if I do this, he’ll let me go. Maybe he’ll agree that this isn’t a real marriage, and we can get out of it without divorcing. I can try to get an annulment since it’s only days since we got married. I believe there’s grounds for an annulment in the state of Ohio if one of the parties was forced into the marriage.
He answers on the first ring.
“Hello?”
I open my mouth, and nothing comes out.
“Hello?” he repeats with irritation.
All the crap he’s pulled. All the turmoil. I summon my bravery, straighten my spine, and slur, “Hey there psycho stalker husband.”
“Chloe,” he breathes. And he sounds so relieved I find my forehead crinkling.
No. No! I’m not going to chicken out. He’s gone too far too many times and no!
“Where are you?” he demands, voice definitely bossy.
I laugh. I laugh loud. And obnoxiously.
“Chloe?”
“You made me a cheater.”
“Chloe, what–”
“You are the one that made me break all the rules, meaning I cheated on Adam.”
“Baby, are you drunk?”
“I’m a cheater. Because of you. And I’m about to break those vows you forced me to make. Know why? Because I’m about to cheat on you, Derek.”
“You’re about to what?” His voice has gone dangerous.
And damn it, it sounds sexy.
Focus, Chloe.
“Yep. This time, it’s my decision. No one else’s. You’re a psycho prick and I’ve had enough. You force me to marry you to keep people safe and they’re still not safe, Derek. Because nobody is safe from you. Certainly not me, but I don’t care about me as much as I care about innocent bystanders like Alannah. And Adam’s grandmother! And Craig! And you started this whole fucking thing by manipulating me into cheating on my fiancé. So yeah. I’m a cheater because that’s what you made me so I’m about to cheat on you now.”
“You’d better not,” he growls through what sounds like gritted teeth. “What did I tell you? Nobody but me. And what did I tell you about making me worry about you?”
“You threatened me. Because that’s what you do. You think threatening me gives you full control over me. Right?”
And it gives me a thrill to hear him angry. Because he deserves to feel angry that someone is doing something he doesn’t like!
“But I’m tired of doing what’s expected of me. I’m tired of being the good girl. So guess what, Derek? I’m not your good girl. I will never be your good girl. And there’s a good-looking guy here at this bar who’s into me. He’s been buying me drinks. And I’m gonna go back to where he’s sitting waiting for me now and invite him to invite me to his place. What do you think about that?”
