Page 3 of Two Wrongs

We were each other’s firsts, and I’d stupidly thought we’d be each other’s only. I didn’t feel cheated at that prospect. It was another thing about our relationship that had, until moments ago, made me feel special and cherished. When I gave myself to him, I gave him everything. He was my every fantasy, every sexual experience, and now I realize I am not his.

A tortured scream rips from my chest as I fall to my knees. Griffin runs to my side and scoops me up off the ground. The only thing I can think is, he was right. We were too young. Doomed before we started.

I look up at him, my green eyes flooding with tears. “Take me to my car, please.” My voice sounds rough to my own ears, but the last person I want to be around now is the man who looks too much like my husband, and probably knew all along this was going on.

“Are you happy?” I ask him when he helps me back into his truck.

His large hands squeeze the steering wheel. “What about any of that would make me happy?”

I can’t look at him anymore, and turn to glare out the window. I see Liam stumble out of the car, pulling on his pants. He sees me, and the look of horror on his face gives me no satisfaction.

“You get what you want now. Me gone,” I finally answer Griffin.

“Wren, if you thought I wanted you gone, you are less perceptive than I gave you credit for.”

Him thinking I’m perceptive at all brings on a fit of hysterical laughter. “I just spent my day cooking and cleaning to make a special anniversary dinner for my husband who apparently would rather be balls deep in some whore in the back of his Mustang. I think it’s safe to say I’m the least perceptive person around.”

2

Wren

I don’t know if Liam will rush home and try to feed me some bullshit about what he was doing. I do know I don’t want to be here if he decides to come home.

Pain lances my middle as I think of that word.Home. A word that connotes a place where you belong and feel safe. Neither of those sentiments applies to these walls anymore. Not for me.

I’m not sure where to go, or who to turn to. Grabbing my phone I try to call Audrey. It’s late, but she’s a bit of a night owl. She doesn’t answer, so I do the only thing I can, leave a message.

“Audrey, it’s me, Wren. I mean, you know that because caller ID, but—“ I take a deep breath. “I need a place to stay. I’m leaving Liam. Please, call me.”

Liam pays our bills, and insists I use cash for all my necessary purchases. Thankfully I never got around to cashing my most recent check. Since my boss is most decidedly living in the Stone Age, he has yet to switch to direct deposit, something I thought was annoying until just now. I open the cookie jar where I keep the household funds for groceries and such. I won’t be doing the grocery shopping anymore, at least not for this apartment. I grab the measly eighty dollars inside the jar, and toss it into my purse. Next, I load my kitten into her carrier, and throw as much as I can grab into a suitcase I retrieve from the closet.

My heart pounds in my chest, as if any moment he’ll come crashing through the door to stop me. Funny, all night long I’d wanted him to walk in here, and now it’s the thing I dread the most.

Fifteen minutes is more time than I want to spend here, and even though I don’t have everything, I have everything I can carry. It has to be enough. After all, they’re only things. They can be replaced, unlike the years we’ve spent in this apartment. I thought we were building a life together, but I was wrong.

Never have I resented the things I gave up to be with him. He meant more than some degree, or the chance to see if my “little hobby” as he calls it could be more. No more. With that thought, I grab my laptop I use to design custom merchandise, and walk out.

Griffin has pulled up behind my car and watches as I descend the stairs and set my meager possessions down by my trunk. I ignore him until he asks, “Wren, what are you doing?”

“Nothing you need to worry about. I’m just glad right now that I never changed my last name. Liam is already living the single life, I’m going to make it easier for him and step aside.”

His eyes narrow, a look I’m used to from him. “You’re not going to fight for your marriage.”

I laugh and hold my arms out to my sides. “I’ve been fighting. Every day for six months. After tonight, it’s clear to me this won’t work if I’m the only one who is trying. Message received. I’m gone.”

“Where are you going to go?”

A sob breaks free, and I slap a hand over my mouth. My eyes sting with unshed tears, but I refuse to give a Hale man my tears. “That’s not your concern. I’ll be fine.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw. “Of course you will, because you’re coming home with me.”

The need to sob once again becomes hysterical laughter. “No I’m not.”

I throw my stuff in the back of my car, and gently place my kitten in the front seat. Then I wheel around and face Griffin. “Move your truck. I’m leaving.”

“Do you even have any money?” He starts to grab his wallet.

“Don’t insult me by trying to give me money. Liam might not let me have access to our bank accounts, but I won’t take your money either.”

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