Page 24 of The Wrong Side Of Us

My chest ached.

It was my fault. That’s all I could think, all I could tell myself. He’d done this once…he could do it again. I cleared my throat, turning to my last resort. I took out my phone, calling him.

He didn’t pick up the first time.

Didn’t pick up the second.

On the third time, I was about to go to voicemail when his breathless voice met my ears.

“Hey, babe,” he said.

“Hey,” I replied, trying not to give anything away. “Are you still at the gallery?”

“Uh…yeah. I’m at the gallery, still with the possible buyer.” My heart dropped.

He was lying to me. I tried not to cry, to keep the pathetic sob inside, but it slipped past my lips.

“You okay, Evie?” he asked, concerned.

Fake concern.

Everything was fake.

“I’m fine. Do you know when you’ll be home?” I asked.

I needed to know in order to keep it together until then, to confront him. Tell him how much I hated him for this.

“Uh, I don’t know, baby. It’s taking a bit longer than I expected.”

Of course, it is.

And that’s when I heard it.

“I think you’ll like this one…oops.”

Jessica’s voice. I’d recognize it any time. There was a long pause, and then I heard a soft giggle in the background.

Nathan’s voice cut me off.

“Evie, I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

With a quick goodbye, I hung up. I didn’t want to move, but by then I was nauseous at the thought of him being with her. I threw up until my weakened limbs could barely hold me up. Loving Nathan was so tiring.

I rinsed my mouth, staring back at the mirror at my pale appearance.

It shouldn’t have surprised me at all—he’d cheated on my sister with me.

He’d always cheat.

Once I finished putting myself together, I walked back into my bedroom—our bedroom—where the memories stared back at me. Where they mocked me…

How was I going to see him face to face?

How the hell would I confront him?

I let myself fall to the floor, crying into my hands despite trying to remain strong.

I’d known pain…betrayal. But when it comes from the single person you don’t ever expect it from…it’s too much to handle.

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