Page 16 of Then and Now (The Edge of Retaliation 3)
Can things get any more complicated?
I’m scared to even think that out loud.
Because, of course it can.
And it will.
“WHERE WERE YOU?” PATRICK demands, storming past me and slamming the front door.
He hasn’t even looked at me yet. He just waltzed in with his filthy attitude and bad words. As always, Patrick doesn’t think of anyone else but himself. When he finally stops and turns, he takes me in. His eyes scan over my body, and my face, and it’s easy to see that I’ve had a hard time, that I’ve been hurt, that I’m not okay.
“What happened to you?” he asks, not acting at all concerned. “Who have you been with?”
He thinks I look like this because I’ve been with someone? My god, of course he thinks something like that.
“I was helping Callie find someone involved in Celia’s death, and we ran into some trouble. I’m fine, in case you were wondering.”
“What the hell is wrong with you? What kind of trouble? You’re going to explain yourself, Joanne!”
“I’m tired, Patrick. You know, I haven’t seen you for a few weeks and you can’t even greet me with kindness, instead you greet me with anger and demands. You wonder why our marriage isn’t working? This is why.”
He laughs, shaking his head, having the audacity to look like my words have absolutely horrified him. Like the very idea that he has anything to do with our marriage breaking down is just insane. Of course he thinks that, Patrick doesn’t have involvement in anything, it’s always someone else. In work and in play.
“Our marriage isn’t working because you’re obsessed with Callie and you’ve been a terrible wife. That’s why it hasn’t been working. If you were at home with me, doing the things you should be doing instead of out there doing god knows what, we might be in a different position right now.”
I shake my head. I’m tired, and I don’t feel like arguing. I’m so sick of arguing. “Look, I’m not in the mood to go over the same argument. We both know that it’s going to be the same words shared, the same fight, the same excuses. We’re both to blame, but right now, I need to rest. I’d appreciate if you’d let me do that.”
“I will,” he murmurs, crossing his arms, “when you tell me who the fuck it was walking out of your apartment earlier.”
My eyes widen. “You were watching me?”
“I drove past to see if you were home yet, and I saw a man walking out. Who the fuck was that? Are you having an affair? If you’re caught having an affair, you’ll lose everything, Jo.”
Wow.
Of course he wants to play that angle. He wants me to admit I’m seeing someone else so it makes it easier for him and he doesn’t have to give anything up if we divorce. In fact, it’s the perfect out for him.
“I’m not having an affair,” I say, shaking my head. “Though, believe me, I’ve thought about plenty of other men outside of you.”
My words are scalding, but I’m angry and I’m sick of his shit. To put it mildly.
Patrick’s eyes widen. “So you’re admitting you’ve had thoughts of being with someone else and you want me to believe that man wasn’t here doing god knows what with you?”
“I don’t care what you believe. I didn’t and haven’t cheated on you.”
“Then who was he?”
“A friend, Patrick.”
“I don’t believe you!” he snaps, shaking his head angrily. “I don’t fucking believe you. A friend that looks like that? I doubt it. If I find out you’re cheating on me, I’ll make sure you get nothing.”
“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? I’m sure it would be the perfect plan.”
He shakes his head, grabbing his keys and walking toward the door, “I’ll find out what you’re doing, and when I do, I’ll make sure you’re adequately punished for it. You don’t want to mess with me, Joanne. I’ve about had enough.”
“You’ve had enough?” I laugh bitterly as he reaches the door. “I’m so fucking done I’m about ready to forget your name. It’s over, Patrick. You and I both know it’s time.”
He stops with his hand on the doorknob. He turns slowly, and says, “You’re ending it?”
“Yes.”
“And you expect me to actually believe you haven’t been seeing someone else? The moment I mention it, it’s over?”
“You’re just looking for something, but it’s not there. I’m ending something that should have been ended years ago and you know it.”
He narrows his eyes. “I’ll find proof of what you’ve been doing, Joanne. I’ll make you pay for this.”
“I didn’t cheat on you!” I snap, crossing my arms, my heart racing, my mind spinning.
He’s a clever man. If he makes it look like I’ve cheated, I’ll have far less of a chance of taking what I’m entitled to, and he knows it. He’s smart enough to pull it off, too. He just needs to make it seem like I’ve been having an affair. But I haven’t, so there shouldn’t be anything he can find.
