Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
The room falls silent when another presence is noted by all three of us, and we all look towards the door. Jack’s standing in the doorway, absorbing the fiery glares pointed at him. ‘I need to talk to Annie,’ he states confidently.
‘What?’ Micky pipes up, almost laughing at the cheek of his declaration. ‘You turn up here large as life, with your fucking wife?’
‘I have one person to explain myself to,’ Jack says calmly. ‘Five minutes, Annie, please.’ He lands me with grey eyes full of desperation. I force myself to disregard his evident despair and tell myself I’m owed an explanation. Because I am.
‘Five minutes,’ I confirm, glancing at Micky and Lizzy, knowing I must be as mad as they think I am. But I need to hear what he has to say. I need closure. ‘I’ll be fine.’
They both leave, clearly reluctant, and once we’re alone, that energy between Jack and me – the energy that frightens me – surges forward. It’s so powerful it makes me move across the room hastily to put as much distance between us as possible and, perhaps, to make the situation look as casual as possible should anyone walk in. Just two people having a chat about business in the kitchen. ‘Go ahead, Jack. Explain,’ I say, cutting straight to the chase.
His hesitation is obvious. ‘Before I explain anything, you need to know that I have never cheated on my wife. Not ever, Annie. Not until you.’
I scoff, unable to force it back. ‘And that makes everything okay?’
‘I didn’t say it makes everything okay. I just want you to know that I don’t make a habit of cheating on my wife.’ He moves forward a few steps, and I hold my hand up, silently stopping him from coming any closer as I glance over my shoulder into the garden. His wife is chatting with Lizzy. My friend is keeping her occupied while her husband is in here with me. I wince, swallowing down the building guilt. ‘Have you thought about me?’ he asks.
I snap my eyes to Jack’s. ‘No.’ Admitting it would be stupid.
‘Don’t lie to me,’ he warns, totally serious. ‘Don’t pretend you didn’t feel it.’
‘What the hell does it matter now?’ I hiss. ‘You lied to me. Where was your ring?’
He throws his hand up, showing me his ring finger. It’s still bare. ‘I don’t wear one. I broke a knuckle when I was working as a builder and haven’t been able to get it on since.’
‘Then you should have told me.’ I imagine plenty of women throw themselves at him. He should have a sign on his forehead or something, some kind of visible warning not to go near.
‘Told you?’ He almost laughs. ‘I already said, Annie. I couldn’t. I couldn’t even think the words. I saw nothing except you. Thought of nothing except how much I wanted you. Everything else paled. All I see are your green eyes staring up into mine. All I can feel is your skin against me. Your breath in my ear.’
‘Stop!’ I demand, ignoring the fact that I had a similar reaction to him. But I’m single. I’m allowed to feel like that. He shouldn’t. Not when he’s taken!
‘No.’ He comes over to me, and I find myself quickly checking behind me again, all skittish, before looking at him. He’s too close. It’s dangerous for more reasons than his wife possibly walking in here. ‘I can’t stop, Annie.’
I shake my head and move away, opening a cupboard and pulling down a bag of pretzels, anything to look busy and casual. ‘You’re married. It ends here,’ I say firmly and evenly, not allowing his words to pierce my resolve.
‘Do you want it to?’ he asks, knocking me back a bit.
I don’t answer nearly as quickly as I should, distracting myself with pouring the pretzels into a bowl. ‘Are you suggesting an affair?’
‘I’m asking you if you’re curious about us.’
‘There is no “us”,’ I whisper-hiss, performing another check of our surroundings.
‘What if there should be?’
I baulk, astounded. ‘“Should be”?’
‘I’ve played tug of war with my conscience all week, Annie. I’ve told myself that this isn’t the right way to get out of my marriage. I’ve tried, I’ve tried so fucking hard to stop thinking about you, and then shit happens with Stephanie and I’m back to square one, obsessing over you and how you made me feel. The smiles you pulled from me. The feelings you spiked. You are clouding everything.’
Shit happens with Stephanie? I hate myself for wondering too hard what that shit is. I can’t ask. Shouldn’t ask.
‘You will stay away from me.’ I pivot and leave the kitchen before Jack can come back at me with anything else that may dent my determination, slapping a smile on my face as I enter the garden.