Page 53 of The Accidental Wife

I smile sadly, “I missed you girls, too.” I tell them, wrapping my arms around Jo, who pulls back and looks at me.

“Whoa, hold on. Something is wrong. Have you been crying?” Jo asks, brushing my hair out of my face. I shake my head, but my eyes water giving away my lie.

“Wow, if ever there was a competition for the world's worst liar, you would win it hands down,” Aimee says with a soft frown, and I half chuckle, half sob. “What happened, babe? Not that we’re complaining, but why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at Cole’s place?”

I sigh and shake my head, “I’m staying here for a few days.” I tell them, and they exchange looks before they turn their gaze to me again.

“BHT?” They both say in harmony.

I nod sadly, “BHT.” Aimee and Jo wrap their arms around me as we walk over to the sofa. BHT is our code for Broken Heart Therapy, consisting of take-out food, lots of wine, and gallons of ice cream while we talk about the situation until we either get too drunk or pass out from a food coma.

* * *

Once I hada shower and changed out of my work clothes, our Chinese arrived, and we settled on the floor by the fireplace, and I fill them in with everything that’s happened from the contract to my family and Sophie.

“So, you saw them kissing in his office?” Jo asks, her brown eyes almost bulging. I nod in response, pushing my food around my plate.

“Yeah, after she told him he would never look twice at a worthless nobody like me even if I walked past him in the street,” I utter with a scoff and shake my head. “He always said I wasn’t his type, and if you see her, she’s just perfect from head to toe.”

Aimee scoffs, “I’ve seen her. She’s always in the tabloids, but she sounds like a royal bitch. I’m sorry, but you can be the most beautiful woman in the world, but if you have a shit personality and an ugly heart, then what have you really got going for you?” She angrily utters while taking a sip of her wine.

“Aimee’s right, Shay, don’t let an entitled snob like her put you down. Who the fuck is she? You’re beautiful both inside and out. She’s obviously threatened by you. Besides, you heard her yourself. She said he’s never looked at her the way he looks at you or touched her as he does you. Surely that’s got to count for something?” Jo explains, reaching over and taking my hand.

I sigh and shake my head, “It could all just be a show to get a reaction out of her—which it did because she’s back in his life as he wanted.” I explain sullenly.

Aimee sighs, looking at her phone, “I don’t know, Shay, it just doesn’t add up. I mean, until you told us about this contract, I genuinely thought you two were into each other. When he was here that day, the way he was looking at you and I’m not even going to get into the state of you both when I walked in on you doing god only knows what.” She states with a knowing smile. I smile a little, remembering that day.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I deny averting my gaze, and Aimee cackles, slapping my thigh.

“Sure, there was some major petting going on in that room judging by the flustered state of you and the smug smirk on his face. He was incredibly pleased with himself for whatever he did to you.” I chuckle and feel my cheeks grow hot.

“Oh my God, shut up.” Jo and Aimee both laugh and awe.

“You’ve been living with him for two months now. Have you had sex again?” Jo questions, and I shake my head.

“No, we didn’t have sex. We did kiss a few times, and last night things got a little hot and heavy, but we got interrupted, so.” I shrug indifferently and sigh, “I’m just so confused girls, he keeps touching me, and kissing me, and he tells me he has to have me when we’re alone, and the sexual chemistry between us is just so intense.” I close my eyes and press my head back against the wall.

“Well, there you go. If it were all for a show, he wouldn’t do those things in private. He’s telling you he has to have you, Shay. I think he really likes you. I mean, look at this photo of you both. You can’t fake moments like this. It’s like nothing else around you exist, but the two of you.” Aimee explains, holding up her phone with the picture of us from last night.

“Yeah, because he was talking about giving me a fuck I'd never forget. He’s just horny Aimee. He can’t sleep with anyone else while he’s married to me, because of the contract, of course, he’s going to say he wants me. He’s got no other choice. Six months is a long time for a guy to go without any sort of sex.” I say and shake my head. “That’s why he’s so adamant about sleeping with me, not because he wants me, but because he has no other choice. I feel so stupid for trusting him. I thought he wanted me, and I almost convinced myself to sleep with him. I’m such an idiot!”

Aimee sighs, “That does make sense. He is a guy, after all, he might just be biding his time, and he’s clearly thinking with his knob.”

“Shayla, you don’t know that,” Jo Interjects, throwing a side glare at Aimee, who shrugs.

“He said he will always love her, Jo, right before she kissed him. How much clearer does it have to be? I heard him.” I explain, pulling my knees to my chest.

“Shayla, have you fallen for him?” Aimee asks. I look at her and shake my head.

“No, I haven’t fallen for him. I was developing a little crush, maybe, but no, I don’t love him. I’m just angry that he would lie and use me like that.” I grumble and stand up, picking up the bottle of wine, not even bothering with the glass anymore. “Can I even be angry? He’s not mine. Not really, so what right do I have to be mad at him for kissing her? As she said, I’m a nobody.” I utter bitterly, pacing the living room, and taking a long gulp of the wine.

Aimee and Jo exchanged glances before they turn their gazes to me, pacing furiously. “You are not, a nobody Shay. Don’t let that bitch get into your head. You’re perfect the way you are. You’re kind and compassionate to everyone around you, and that’s a beautiful thing. With all the shit you’ve had to go through in your life, you’re still one of the strongest people I know.” Aimee says, watching me. I sigh and shake my head, taking another long sip of the bottle of wine.

“Ugh, you know what, I don’t even want to talk about this anymore. I just want to spend the next two days free of anything and everything to do with Cole Hoult.” I say, slumping down on the sofa with a huff.

“Uh,” Aimee holds my phone up. “He’s calling you.” I roll my eyes and sigh. I take the phone off her and stare at his name screen.

“Why are you calling me?! What do you want?! What?!” I shout at the phone before I decline the call. “In fact,” I snap, turning the phone off completely. “Eat that, you rotten bastard,” I utter icily and toss my phone aside before gulping down the rest of the wine. “I hate men!”

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