Page 15 of Butter My Biscuit

“Always, baby. It’s ’cause you’re always on my mind.”

Tears form on the brim of my eyes, confirming he recycles the same lines between us. I cry because I’ve become exactly what I was so scared of being after my parents’ divorce—the other woman.

For most of my life, I blamed my dad’s second wife for destroying our family. My therapist believes that divorce is the root of all my relationship problems. I’d agree. But for the first time in my life, I realize Tanya never deserved my anger; my father did.

“Joey, yes!” she screams out.

I wrap my arms around my body as I listen to them fuck. Her cries, his groans, and their bodies clap together, all the way to the dramatic finish.

“You think we made another baby?” She giggles, and I cover my mouth so my sobs aren’t heard.

As I blink away tears, I want to text Harrison and tell him to come get me. But my goddamn phone is in my coat pocket on the living room floor.

“I hope so. I love you.”

“I love you too. What’s that noise?” his wife asks.

The timing is remarkable. Iconic even. Couldn’t have been planned any better. I want to disappear.

“Shit, the cleaning lady must’ve left her coat. Didn’t even notice. I was in my office, working. Probably trying to find where she left her phone.” His lie comes so fast that my head spins.

I hear him stand and zip up his pants.

I can imagine them on the couch, the place where I would’ve given myself to him had she not interrupted. And I’m so damn relieved. At least, I’ll leave with some dignity, knowing I didn’t sleep with a cheating bastard.

The woman yawns loudly. “I want a bath. Join me?”

“Yeah, go draw the water, sweetie. I’ll be right there.”

“Not too long, okay?”

“Not too long,” he repeats.

I hear footsteps come closer, and I nearly stop breathing, but thankfully, she keeps going. A minute later, the door opens, and Joey looks at me with sad eyes.

“I can explain everything.”

I push him with every bit of my weight. He stumbles back.

“Fuck off,” I spit out, and that’s when I notice the ring on his left finger. He must’ve taken it off when he let me in, then put it back on when she arrived. “You’re married.”

“Yes, but?—”

“I don’t want your excuses. Leave me alone.” I rush past him, quickly grabbing my coat and making my way to the door.

“Grace,” he hisses. “I love you, baby girl.”

I reach for the handle. “Tell that to your wife. Oh, wait, you just did.”

I walk outside, rushing down the steps, holding my coat tight against my body. As soon as I turn onto the sidewalk, thunder rolls.

Tears flood down my face as I frantically call Harrison. It goes to voice mail, and I panic, but I keep walking even if my vision is blurry.

“Harrison, please.” I’m nearly sobbing. “Pleasecome get me. I left his place. I’m walking. You’ll find me.”

I hang up and text him, and that’s when I notice my phone has one percent.

“No,” I whisper, and when the rain starts falling, I’m scared I won’t survive heartbreak again, not when my fairy tale quickly turned into a nightmare.

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