Chapter 4
I slept in and woke up on my own.
Still groggy, I blinked open my eyes only to see someone sitting right by my bed. Instantly, I was wide awake.
After the initial shock, I sat up and shot him a cold look.
After a few seconds of tense silence, Jack spoke up first. ‘Is it mine?‘
I looked down and saw he was holding the pregnancy test I’d tossed in the trash three days ago.
‘What’s that supposed to mean? You think I cheated on you? I shot back.
I was about to lose it, but then I saw Jack’s eyes well up with tears.
My anger froze in my chest, stuck between blowing up and just fading away.
It hurt so much that I just wanted to break down and cry.
Tears poured down my face.
‘We’re getting divorced anyway. Does it even matter if it’s yours? Listen up. Whether I keep this baby or not is totally up to me, and you don’t get a say,‘ I snapped.
Petty, vengeful thoughts started bubbling up inside me.
Right then, I made up My Mind: I’d not only have this baby and make him pay through the nose for child support, but I’d also show up with the kid now and then just to piss him off and that trans migrator chick.
Jack stared at me for a few seconds, his voice muffled
and tense.
‘Someone sent me a video from an anonymous number. It’s you checking into a hotel with your ex,‘ he said
awkwardly.
I froze for a Moment, then my temper snapped instantly.
‘I’ve been holed up at home for a whole week! I haven’t even stepped outside. My groceries were delivered straight to my door. When did I ever go to a hotel with my ex?‘ I shot back.
Jack stared at me, eyes locked on mine, like he was trying
to catch me in a lie.
“That video’s not fake or edited. It’s you in there. Unless you’ve got a twin running around somewhere,’ he said.
I snapped, “Impossible! I haven’t left the house at all.”
Wait, this felt like déjà vu.
‘Where’s the video? Let me see it!” I demanded.
I reached into his pocket and snatched his phone.
I knew his unlock code by heart.
So I had his phone unlocked in no time.
But I wasn’t used to his phone, so I handed it back to him.
‘You do it,” I said, a little impatient.
Jack took the phone and slowly opened his messages, scrolling through them.
But there was no video to be found.
‘It’s gone,‘ he muttered, frowning and lost in thought.
I let out a cold snort, buried my face in the bed, and started bawling my eyes out.
Fine. If you think I cheated, then I cheated. Let’s go file for divorce tomorrow!” I yelled.
About ten seconds later, Jack scooped me up from the bed and held me close, trying to comfort me.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you. This is all on me,‘ he whispered, trying to calm me down.
I’d just been faking it before, but when he said that, all the hurt and frustration I’d been bottling up came crashing
down.
Suddenly, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. The tears just started pouring out for real.
“I got a video of you getting a sketchy massage once, and when you said it wasn’t true, I just took your word for it,” I choked out.
“I trusted you, but you can’t even trust Me! Seriously, how are we supposed to go on like this?” I sobbed.
“I don’t want a divorce. I’m the coward. It’s all my fault. Don’t cry, baby,‘ Jack whispered, hugging me tighter.
Baby? That was the first time he had ever called me that.
The more I thought about it, the more heartbroken I felt.
The More heartbroken I felt, the more I just wanted to cry.
I kept crying for a while before I finally stopped.
Suddenly, I realized I hadn’t showered in three days and probably smelled like a dumpster. Feeling totally icky, I squirmed out of his arms.
“Ugh, I reek! I’m gonna go take a shower. You change the sheets and the blanket,” I said, Making a face.
‘Okay, Jack said.
I hadn’t really eaten anything in three days, and as soon as I tried to stand up, my legs went weak and nearly gave
out.
Jack immediately wrapped his arms around me to steady
Me.
“I got you some soup. Let me warm it up. You should eat a little before you shower,‘ he said.
“Okay, I mumbled.
After I finished eating, I rested for a bit before heading to the shower.
When I came out of the bathroom, Jack had already changed the sheets.
I flopped down on the fresh bed, feeling totally wiped out.
But honestly, I was in a great mood.
After a while, Jack picked up a mop and started cleaning the floor.
I tilted my head, just watching him move around.
All the emptiness and loneliness I’d felt these past few days just faded away, filled up by the sight of him busying himself around the place.
Honestly, things between Jack and Me had always been a little off. We were more like partners, just muddling through life together. Not really close, not really distant, just doing our own thing.
But after all this drama, suddenly there was this weird,
almost romantic tension between us.
Was this what falling in love was supposed to feel like?
The whole thing was making me feel super awkward and shy.
I yanked the blanket over my face, trying to hide my burning cheeks.
Jack put down the mop and came over, reaching out to feel my forehead, looking all serious and anxious.
“Are you running a fever again?” he asked.
I shook my head, trying to steer the conversation away. ‘So, about those two videos. What’s your take?”
Jack mulled it over. ‘Someone’s definitely targeting us, not sure what their deal is though. But now that we know, whatever comes up, let’s talk it out in person, okay?*
He hesitated for a Moment. “It would be best if we could
trust each other.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Even though I nodded without hesitation, I knew deep down that real, no–holds–barred trust between us was pretty much impossible.
Even now, with things getting kind of romantic, that wall
between us was still there.