Page 12 of Darling Obsession

It’s also against the rules.

He just had me all flustered. It’s because he’s at Mr. Vance’s table, that’s all.

God, I hope he doesn’t complain about me.

I wonder why he stayed when Mr. Vance left. And why he didn’t have a drink in front of him until now. And why he’s not socializing with the other patrons, or flirting with the waitresses.

And most of all, why do I keep feeling his eyes all over me, every time I look away?

I dip into the staff room to make sure there’s not a huge piece of lettuce in my teeth, because I’m seriously starting to wonder what the man is staring at with such distaste. At least, I think it’s distaste.

I really need to pull myself together.

I decide to check the group chat on my phone labelledSquadfor a quick pick-me-up, and find that my girlfriends have been chatting. I’m the only one working tonight.

But there’s also another message waiting for me.

Justin:Need you to work late tomorrow. Big catering order.

In my email, I find the cake order, which will take me hours to fill. The order came in this morning, and he’s just telling me about it now? I’m sure I told him I was seeing the girls tomorrow night.

I pop back into theSquadchat and tell my girlfriends,So sorry but I can’t make it tomorrow night, have to work at the bakery,with a wailing sad face emoji.

Which instantly gets a stream of replies.

Dani:NO. Full stop.

Nicole:But we never get to see you!!!

Dani:He better be paying you this time…

Nicole:As if you don’t have enough to do!

I definitely do. And I so desperately wanted this rare night out with the girls. But my car isn’t going to repair itself, and my landlord definitely isn’t getting talked out of raising the rent next month—I’ve already tried.

I text back quickly to quell their worries.

Me:He’s definitely paying me. There’s a huge catering order.

Nicole:Is this about Lorraine?

A knot tightens in my chest. If it weren’t for my incredibly ride-or-die girlfriends holding me together, I’d probably have fallen to pieces so many times over the last few years. But I’ve leaned on them enough.

Me:Mom is okay. Don’t worry.

Dani:I’ll stop worrying when you leave that man for good.

Dani is blunt like that, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve known Daniella Vola for many years as the most confident alpha female in any given room. She’s a total man-eater. Meaning she’s everything I’m not, but need in my life. And I know she disliked Justin from day one.

It took me a while, but I finally see why.

Five days ago, when I woke up at his place at four-thirty in the morning to get ready for my morning shift at the bakery, his phone was lighting up in the dark on his bedside table. I went to turn it face down, so he could sleep in a bit, and I saw the text. At least part of it. I also saw who it was from. And all the pieces just fell into place.

It’s so obvious now. That he’s been cheating on me with that cute girl who delivers the chocolate. And looking back at his behavior… it’s probably been going on for a while.

I don’t even know which hit me worse—the cheating, or the fact that she’s always been so nice to me. She even kinda looks like me.

Does she know about me and Justin?

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