CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Eli
Ishould have seen this coming.
Kendra has been a lot of things, but I never thought she could stoop this low. From the moment we got married, she’s been lying and cheating on me. I didn’t know with one hundred percent certainty, but I always got an inkling something was going on. Now, with another man’s baby inside her, she can no longer deny her betrayal. At least, that’s what I thought.
Amnesia?
Really? That’s her cover story?
I must admit, these last three weeks with her have been refreshing. There’s not been one snide comment, nor her normal sudden bursts of temper tantrums. She’s been kind and courteous—even when I’ve been rude back to her. She hasn’t once looked in the mirror more than once… and don’t get me started on Max. Normally, he barks and growls at her when she’s around, but lately he’s been cuddling up with her, following her everywhere she goes, and I have even noticed that at nighttime he sleeps with her in her bed. Before all that time ago, she would never have allowed that to happen.
I think back to when things all changed, and she’s right. It was the morning of my movie launch in Wyoming. She seemed different from the second I picked her up from the floor and carried her to bed. No cursing, like she sometimes did when she was spaced out on drugs. Just simple moans, which, I must admit, did scare me a little considering it was out of character for her.
Blinking back the tears after our argument just now, I venture into the kitchen and spot her cardigan on the counter. I pick it up, glancing down at it, and I notice the top button missing. Heart racing, I check the glass she pulled out a couple of weeks back, and sure enough, there’s around five buttons in there.
My mind snaps to the girl in the café. What was her name again? Pretty, bubbly girl with hair the color of coffee beans and eyes the color of the deepest blue sea.
Audrey.
Yes, that’s her name. Audrey Stone from the Full of Beans café that used to be owned by her father.
I snap my head towards the living room before looking back at the buttons. Did Kendra follow me that day? Did she wait until I left and then question the girl after? If she did, then why? What does Kendra gain from taking on the behavior of a random lady in Wyoming?
Audrey wasn’t random, though. That’s for certain. In fact, I found myself thinking about her for a while after we met, and even sought after her at the after party, hoping she would come so we could have another nice talk together. It saddened me to learn that she never came, or that I never found her. Which is stupid because of the simple fact that I’m married. I’m not a philanderer, that much I know for sure, but it was just nice to have a simple conversation with someone normal for a change. Someone I feel I could converse with for hours.
A friend.
That’s what I thought Kendra’s been lately. For the first time in forever, I felt like I would miss her if we were apart for more than a few hours. I got that same spark that had been lost after our honeymoon ended. In fact, the spark was lighter than it had ever been. And when we kissed. Wow. I don’t recall ever getting those same emotions, my body heating, my head dizzying, and my heart soaring as I did when we kissed at the fair. She mentioned she had heard fireworks. I thought I heard a chorus of them.
I can’t believe she has managed to draw me back in with promises that she’ll change. She messed with my emotions many a time in the past, but no more. Kendra’s gone way too far this time.
Glancing down at the cardigan again, an idea flashes through my head. Answers. That’s what I need.
Putting the cardigan back down, I make my way to bed, taking out my phone to call Oliver. As diligent as ever, he answers after just one ring.
“Hey, bud, sorry to call you so late.”
“It’s no bother. Is everything okay?”
I note he doesn’t sound groggy, so at least it seems I haven’t woken him up.
“Yes and no. How easy would it be to cancel my interview with Hello tomorrow and instead hire a private jet to Wyoming?”
“Wyoming?” he asks, surprised. “Why Wyoming?”
I sigh. “It’s a long story. I just need to go there for a couple of hours… the day, at most. It’s just, I don’t want anyone to know I’m going, hence the private jet.”
I reach my bedroom and immediately, I take off my shoes one by one.
“I can reschedule Hello, no problems, but hiring a private jet at this hour is a little tricky. What time will you want it for?”
Rubbing my forehead with one hand, I answer, “As soon as one is available.”
“Okay, I will see what I can do.”
A relieved sigh leaves my lips. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Oliver hangs up, so I throw the phone on the duvet for now and sit on the foot of the bed. Rubbing my hands through my hair, I exhale an exhausted breath. I’m sick of people walking all over me, thinking they can get away with it. It’s time I fight back. My dad, Kendra… anyone who’s anyone who thinks I’m a pushover. I’m getting answers. And once I do… Kendra and I are finished.