“What?” I frown.
“She wants you to get the shits and then leave him here and then she will go in for the kill.”
“She can have him,” I snap. “I’m not settling anymore. He’s a player and you know what? I’ve played right into his hands. He’s used me for the last time. He promised me he wouldn’t sleep with anyone else. What a joke.” I turn and storm out of the bathroom and run straight into the brick wall that is Joshua Stanton.
Chapter 15
“We’re leaving,” he snaps as he grabs my hand. I snatch my hand out of his.
“Don’t touch me,” I scowl. He stops and frowns at me. I sigh and put both of my hands up in a stop signal.
“Just go home with blondie, Josh. we both know you’ve done it before.”
He drops his head and rests his hand on my hip.
“Tash, don’t be like that.”
“You promised me, you asshole.” Oh no, those stupid tears are welling again. I bite my lip and look down to the ground. He grabs my hand once more and I snatch it away.
“I said don’t fucking touch me!” I yell. Ok, donkey on the edge. I’m coming very close to licking the windows here. This could be a scene from Fatal Attraction with yours truly starring as the serial killer. “Josh I’m leaving. Have a nice night, actually life…it’s been nice knowing you.” I stomp to the front door with him hot on my heels. I glance across the room to catch Bridget and Adrian’s eye and give them a wave as I disappear down the stairs and out the door. Outside I immediately lift my arm for a cab as I stomp towards the curb.
“What are you doing?” he snaps. “You’re acting totally
irrational.”
“Irrational!” I scream as I push him in the chest. “I said go away!” I yell. I really am going for an Oscar here but I’m too mad to care. The limo pulls up, he bends down and in one fell swoop picks me up and throws me over his shoulder and pushes me into his limo. I get in and scowl as I shuffle to the other side to get away from him but he scoots in after me.
“What’s fucking wrong with you?” he yells. I gesture that the driver can hear us, so he pushes the privacy screen button and it goes up slowly. He sits back in his seat and runs his pointer finger over his lips while resting his elbow on the door. I know he’s thinking. He runs both of his hands through his hair. He’s frustrated. Well, good, because I’m fuming. “If it’s not too much trouble, Natasha,” he sneers, “please tell me what the hell is the matter with you.”
“When did you sleep with her?” He frowns but doesn’t answer me. “Josh, you promised me,” and that is it, the pathetic dam bursts and I break into full–blown sobs.
“Promised what?” he says gently as he slides over to be near me and he wraps me in an embrace. “Sh precious, don’t cry. I can’t stand it, baby.” He kisses my forehead.
“You told me you wouldn’t be with anyone else,” I sob. “And yet you slept with her.” I sound pathetic but I can’t even pretend to act cool anymore, I don’t have it in me.
“Baby, I’m sorry, it was before I got back with you. I didn’t know what was going to happen between us.” I stay silent as I process his words, my chest racking with sobs. He runs his hand down over my hair. I shake my head. I’m an embarrassment to myself. I have absolutely no self–respect. I put my head down.
“How many times?” I ask but he stays silent. “Josh, how many times?” I repeat…still silence. “So help me, Josh, if you don’t.”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to, Natasha.”
“How many?” I sob.
He drops his head. “Three times,” he says quietly.
“Three times!” I yell. That’s it, I’ve lost it. I put my head into my hands and weep. He pulls me into his arms and onto his lap. “Sh stop it, please don’t cry,” he kisses my face continually as he rubs my leg. We sit in silence all the way home, me too heartbroken to articulate and he too scared to speak in case he says the wrong thing. We pull up in front of my apartment and he moves me off his lap. I slowly get out of the car and walk towards the front foyer area and he walks in behind me. I turn.
“Josh, I don’t… I can’t do this… not anymore. It hurts…you just hurt me too much. This isn’t a healthy relationship for me. I can’t deal with this…baggage. You need to let me be.” I turn and walk off and he follows again without saying anything. “I mean it Josh, go home.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not ending it like this Tash. You can’t let that low life come between us. She means nothing to me.”
“Three times Josh. You went back for seconds and thirds.”
“It was before the wedding. I haven’t touched anyone since the first time we kissed at the wedding, I promise you.” Can I believe anything that comes out of his mouth? I’m exhausted. I don’t even have it in me to fight anymore. I turn to walk inside and he waves the driver off and the car pulls away. We get upstairs and I immediately strip off and head to my therapy of choice, a burning hot shower. This was definitely not the night I had planned. He wisely doesn’t come into the bathroom but waits for me in the lounge room with a cup of tea he has made for me. I dress quickly into my favourite nightwear and join him. He smiles when he sees my flannelette pyjamas.
“What,” I frown.
“I’d never thought I would see the day, but your pyjamas are kind of growing on me.” I momentarily forget I’m angry with him and look down and smile.