Page 18 of The Ring Thief
I didn’t imagine that conversation with her, the one where she told me she’d start unpacking and set everything up before I got home. What the fuck happened between then and now?
I click into her contact one more time, bringing the phone to my ear and waiting for the beep. My voice is pleading as I say, “Lily. Please. Whatever’s going on, could you just…” I squeeze my eyes shut, hating that I’m not actually speaking to her, but not knowing what else to do. “I love you, Lily. Please tell me what’s going on.”
I cut the call and tuck my phone away, keeping it on loud even though I know she won’t be calling me back anytime soon. I draw in a breath, knowing if I want to be functional, for both work and to figure this shit with my wife out, I need my sleep.
Methodically shutting off each light in the condo, I finally make my way back out the front door.
CHAPTER 8
Lily
“What’s your plan?”
I take an indelicate bite of cream cheese bagel, shoving too much in my mouth and then pointing at my bulging cheeks, eyes wide with meaning.
Sasha stares back at me, unimpressed, not even blinking as she watches me chew, waiting me out. It’s unnerving, reminding me a bit too much of a snake about to lunge out and strike.
Only struggling a little, I swallow, and immediately grab the bagel to take another bite. Sasha snatches it out of my fingers, and then goes a step further, snagging the plate with the second bagel on it and pulling it out of reach.
“Hey!” I protest. “I was eating that!”
She waves the bagel at me. “No, you weren’t.” She takes a massive bite out of it, and I gasp in outrage. Around her mouthful, she mumbles, “No, you were avoiding your problems. And you can’t avoid this by stuffing your face.”
I sit back with a frown. “I don’t think two bagels equals stuffing my face,” I mumble petulantly.
She flicks up an eyebrow, finishing her mouthful before she says haughtily, “Do I need to remind you about the chocolatelast night?”
My mouth drops open. “You brought the chocolate over.”
“But I didn’t eat it,” she shrugs, but then a cloud of concern draws over her features. “You can’t just pretend this isn’t happening, babe. You need to get the big confrontation over and done with, and then close this chapter of your life.”
“I know,” I murmur quietly, looking away, my eyes drifting over the street. We’re sitting under the awning of a small bakery, our little garden table in the perfect position to let us people watch as everyone goes about their day. It’s an easy distraction from the mess of my life, making up stories for each passerby, but I know Sasha’s right.
I can’t hide from this forever.
Sasha had given me a play-by-play of her conversation with him. At first, I’d gotten a little thrill, knowing he’d been worried enough to call her, demanding answers. And then it’d registered that he hadn’t noticed, or cared, that I wasn’t where I was supposed to be until three in the morning.
My thoughts had snowballed from there, because while there hadn’t been any more pictures of him and Silvia, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d actually been at work.
“Lily.” Sasha carefully sets the bagel down. “Talk to me.”
I clear my throat, pretending valiantly that my eyes aren’t starting to water. “I’ll ask him to meet me this afternoon. Somewhere neutral and public.” My throat bobs as I swallow. I blink furiously, desperately trying to push back the emotion welling up. “I’ll tell him I overheard him. I’ll tell hi—” my voice cracks and I slump, like all the air has just slipped out of me, my chin dropping to my chest.
“Christ. I don’t know how to do this. I’ve never trusted anyone like I trusted him. How is this happening?” I sniffle, hoping like hell that anyone walking past doesn’t realize I’m losing it, weeping into a cream cheese bagel.
Sasha leans across the table, holding her hands out. I hesitate, worried that taking any comfort from her will be the thing that sends me over the edge. But then I tuck my hand in hers, unable to help myself.
“You’re one of the strongest people I know, Lily,” she tells mefiercely. “You’ll get through this with your head held high. His choices are not a reflection of you as a person, but of him. He’s the asshole here, and you don’t shoulder any of that blame.”
“What does she have that I don’t?” I whisper the words, hating myself for saying them out loud, but knowing that Sasha is the one person who’d never judge me for thinking it. I’m flawed, with insecurities just like any other woman, but I’ve never struggled with my self-esteem.
Now I’m doubting everything.
Every sweet word he whispered into my ear, every kiss, every touch. Why did he play this elaborate game if all he wanted was her?
Sasha scoffs, distracting me as I look up at her furious expression. “That bitch,” she sneers, “is a narcissistic sociopath who probably eats babies for breakfast.” I gasp, quickly looking around to make sure no one overheard her. At my expression, she quickly amends, “Okay, maybe not babies. But definitely kittens. Do you know the kind of person who eats cuddly, sweet kittens, Lily?” I roll my lips inward, shaking my head, biting furiously at them to stop the smile as she pronounces, “A psychopath, that’s who. She has that creepy fake smile…” she shivers dramatically. “It’s like she’s a porcelain doll, but her mask is all cracked and rotted, so she slaps a concrete-layer of makeup on to hide it, but nothing hides that kind of damage.”
“I don’t think you can be a sociopath and a psychopath,” I put in helpfully.
