Page 160 of Stanton Unconditional

Huh, my eyes widen. Joshua squeezes my hand as I try to rip it from his gorilla grip.

“We are not married,” I snap. I hold out my hand. “I don’t see a ring on this finger…do you?”

She frowns at Joshua. “But I thought you said?” He coughs uncomfortably.

“I bet you have,” I smile sarcastically. “Joshua’s stories get a little exaggerated sometimes and then on other times he totally leaves things out altogether, don’t you, honey?” I raise my eyebrows.

Joshua sculls his coffee to escape my glare.

“I have to get going, lovely to see you again.” I smile at her as I stand.

Joshua stands. “I’ll walk you out.”

“Not necessary,” I smile. “See you later.” I storm out of the café with him hot on my heels.

“Seriously, Josh, go back inside,” I sigh. “Natasha,” he snaps. “What was that about?”

I smile sweetly as I boil with anger on the inside, what an asshole. How could he not tell me about working with her? Act calm. Act calm, act fucking calm. I frown. “What are you talking about, Joshua?”

“Where are you going?” he asks as he grabs my hand.

“Out with my friends. I told you.”

He rolls his lips as he contemplates saying something. “What is it you want to say, Joshua?” I raise a brow in

question.

“I didn’t tell you I worked with her because I knew you

would lose your shit.” His eyes stay firmly on mine.

I smile. “Always thinking of me.” I pull from his grip.

“How thoughtful you are, no, my shit is completely together,” I sneer.

He narrows his eyes at me. “I’ll be over around eight?” he replies as he leans in and kisses my cheek.

“I look forward to it,” I reply. I walk back to my car with a red glow shooting from my ears. He has got to be joking.

My phone dances silently around the table.

“Are you not even going to answer it?” Bridget frowns. “No.” I screw up my face as I drink the last of my margarita. “I’m off him, he can go to Hell.” We are at the Cargo Bar.

I’ve ditched Joshua. I didn’t even tell him I was going out. This

is the fifth time my phone has rung in fifteen minutes.

“Who is this chick anyway?” Abbie asks. “You could take her.”

I nod. “Totally, but if he thinks I’m going to be a mushroom and kept in the dark for the rest of my life he can think again. Our whole relationship is oneway traffic. His fucking way and I’m over it.” The girls both nod as they listen.

“I told him I wouldn’t be his booty call and yet I am.” I take a drink. “I constantly open up to him and tell him I love him like a pathetic schoolgirl and yet he says nothing back. Every damn night he turns up at eight o’clock and it is just assumed that we will have awesome sex all night.”

Abbie glances at Bridget. “Yeah, sounds totally shit.” Bridget laughs into her drink and I giggle. “It is.”

They both shake their heads at me. “So, let’s get this straight, you are annoyed because he comes around to your house every night and gives you awesome sex without complications?” Abbie frowns.

I nod. “Basically.”