Hidden in Lies (21 page)

Instead, I say, “Yes.” He walks away without so much as a backward glance.

I STAYED LOCKED
away in my bedroom the rest of last night and all day today, only coming out when absolutely necessary. The amount of self loathing is indescribable. I’ve managed to push away the one good thing to happen to me in my life. The desperation to take it back is all consuming and I’ve had to fight the urge to run downstairs and tell him I didn’t mean it. Really, I didn’t, but I knew it was the only thing I could do. I can’t be tempted by Alex and the possibilities he represents. The biggest one being happiness—or better yet, love—which I sacrifice.

All too soon, it’s five o’clock. I’m sitting in the bedroom watching television when I hear Cal talking downstairs. I have to get rid of this foul mood now or Cal will know something is up. And there is no way I want him catching wind of my internal struggle and the reasons behind it.

“Hi, Cal,” I say once I get downstairs and find him sitting in the breakfast nook. “Everything work out yesterday?” Leaning down, I give him a small kiss before smiling warmly at him.

“Yes, it’s all sorted for now.”

“That’s great. Would you like me to start dinner? Are you hungry?” I focus all of my energy into being the wife I was before Alex was brought into my life. I’m attentive and considerate to Cal, making sure all of his needs are met and every detail looked after.

“Yes,” he responds curtly. It seems he’s still upset with our phone conversation last night. He’s not making this easy as the disdain I have for him slowly creeps its way up my spine. I fight it back, desperate to maintain the façade that I have gotten so good at portraying.

Cal sighs. “I forgot something in the car.” He gets up and heads for the garage to retrieve whatever it is he’s missing. As he’s leaving the kitchen, Alex walks in. I immediately divert my attention, not wanting to encourage him to speak to me. Cal’s phone lights up and rings once beside me. He must be really distracted lately; it’s very unlike him to leave his phone lying around, and he’s done it twice now. I look at it, and the image displayed on the screen makes me nauseous. I snatch the phone up and swipe at the screen to unlock it so I can see what the hell this is all about.

It’s a text from Mona. She’s sent a picture of herself lying down, spread eagle, naked from the waist down. The image of her vagina staring straight at me.

My pussy already misses you. I can’t wait for you to fill me with your thick cock again.

I’m going to be sick. Dropping the phone on the table, I run to the bathroom before I empty the contents of my stomach. I’m not innocent and I haven’t been the perfect wife, especially with my recent activities with Alex. But to have it in my face—literally—like that is more than I can take. My arms drape over the toilet seat as I rest my head on my arms. God, I’m such a fucking idiot! How in the world did I ever think I’d be enough for a man like Cal?

My mother was wrong. I did everything she told me growing up. I stayed thin, I made myself available sexually, I took interest in their hobbies, I smiled and was supportive even when I hated something, and I always, always hid my unhappiness and disdain for the man I was with.

It didn’t fucking work.

There’s a soft knock on the door, and I know who it is. Cal couldn’t give two shits about me, so he wouldn’t care if I was barfing up my intestines, and I just don’t have the strength to fight off Alex.

“Go away!” I shout, not caring who hears or how it sounds. Normally, I would worry that Cal would hear the distraught in my voice, but right now I. Don’t. Care. I’m met with silence and am so grateful that he didn’t push and is letting me be. After a few minutes, I make a decision. I’m confronting Cal about this. Repercussions be damned, I will not have him blatantly and publically disrespect me like this.

Barging out of the restroom, I set my sights on Cal and charge his way. I’m on a mission. “You missed a text message,” I say accusatorily.

Looking down at his phone, he says, “Okay.”

“Why don’t you check it, Cal?” My arms cross over my chest in defiance. His eyebrow arches in warning, telling me to back off, but I don’t. “I already saw it. Do you want to tell me what that is?”

“Well,” he starts, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms to match my stance. “It looks like Mona’s pussy to me.” Picking up his phone, he examines it again. “Mmm, yes, that’s definitely Mona’s pussy.” My mouth falls open at his lack of remorse. I really thought he would try to hide it at the very least. My veins are filled with molten lava as my blood boils at his audacity. I am not this woman. I’m not the wife that turns a blind eye to her lying, cheating husband while he demands everything from her.

“How long, Cal? Is this a recent thing? Something you’ve been doing while you’ve been
voting?”

Cal stands up and walks casually to me. His calm demeanor is a little eerie. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve been fucking her for months now. You’re a bore in the sack and I needed something a little more exciting. Mona does that for me. What goes on between Mona and I is of little consequence to you. This doesn’t change anything for us.” He lets out a small laugh. “Except now there’s no need for all the horrible fake orgasms.” My cheeks instantly flush at the mention of all the times I’ve faked it during intimacy and thought that he had no clue. My embarrassment quickly gets pushed aside as my anger over the situation takes over.

“This changes everything!” I shout, the vein in my neck popping out. My hands are balled up at my sides while I lean forward to yell at him.

“No, it doesn’t. You’re still going to accompany me to all campaign functions, interviews, et cetera. And you’re going to do it lovingly just like you’ve always done. You will show support, devotion, and loyalty, but now there will be no secrets. You see, I’m not the only one that’s been lying. Am I, Elizabeth? How stupid do you think I am? Do you honestly think I’ve been buying your pathetic act? That I really believed you love me? I know why you stay with me, and that’s fine.” My heart drops as realization hits. I’ve been miserable, pretending to be something I’m not for nothing. All this time he saw right through it, but he knew I’d never leave. “Now, neither one of us has to pretend in private. You’ll know when I’m out late that I’m fucking Mona, and when I come home we’ll be happily married again. Oh, and just so you know, the hate you feel for me is mutual. So the next time I shove my dick in your mouth—which, by the way, you will accept without complaint—just know it’s not you that’s getting me hard, it’s this picture of Mona’s pussy,” he says as he holds up his cell phone.

I’m beyond mad right now. My vision blurs with the rage boiling beneath the surface. I’m mad at Cal for thinking this kind of
arrangement
would work, but I’m more upset with myself for always catering to him. In a way, it’s probably my fault he thinks he could get away with something so absurd. I never balk or question anything he tells me, so why would I now? Then again, he obviously knows that I’d put up with just about anything because of my obligations. Things have changed—I’m changing, and I refuse to play this charade with him any longer. “So, tell me, Cal. How does this work? You fuck her and then come home to shove your dick in my mouth? Is that how it’ll work?” I ask sarcastically, but the image of him all but forcing me to give him head runs through my mind. My stomach violently rolls at the thought that he was with her before he made me suck him off.

“Elizabeth, that’s enough,” Cal says sternly in warning.

Snap.

That’s the sound of me losing my self-control. “No, fuck you, Callahan! Fuck yo—” I’m cut off by a strong backhand to the face. The force causes me to stumble slightly before I regain my footing. Immense pain explodes from my cheek, sending shock waves to my eye socket and through the rest of my head. The shock of what just happened renders me speechless as my mouth hangs open and I clutch my cheek. I blink several times trying to clear the tears in my eyes to regain focus. When I’m able to see and process what’s happening, I’m even more stunned if that’s possible.

Alex has Cal pinned up against the wall, his forearm against his throat. Cal’s eyes are as wide as saucers, but it’s Alex’s expression that causes me to pause. If there was ever a picture description of pure rage, this is it. His face is red, veins bulging out of his neck and forehead, eyes taking on a feral look as they bore into Cal’s, jaw is set tight as he talks through his teeth, and one hand is pulled back in a fist ready to connect with Cal’s face. I can only think of one word that depicts the way he looks right now.

Deadly.

“No!” I scream, running over to pull Alex off of Cal. “Stop!” Cal’s face is starting to turn red with the pressure being put on his throat, which is cutting off his airway.

“You piece of fucking shit. You want to hit someone, tough guy? Come on, hit me.” He grits out each word through clenched teeth. Alex is so close to him that their noses are touching. He’s seething and I’m not sure what to do. Cal starts coughing, struggling to take in air. I pull on Alex’s arm trying to get him to release him. “I should end you, you worthless son of a bitch. How dare you think you can treat her like that.”

“Alex!” I pull on his arm again with everything I have. “Please, stop!” His head turns in my direction; the anger in his eyes startling me. The warm, tender Alex is gone, and in its place is this raging monster. “For me, let him go,” I plead. Standing there holding my breath, I wait as he finally releases his hold on Cal. Cal lets out a huge gasp as he takes in air and falls to his knees.

“That’s it, you’re done, buddy. You too, Elizabeth. I think you forget who pays for things around here,” Cal chokes out, his voice raw. He clutches his throat as he coughs some more.

“Hey! Don’t you fucking threaten her! I don’t give a shit what you do to me. You lay your hands on her again I will drag you out in the middle of the goddamn street and beat the fuck out of you. Not even Elizabeth will be able to pull me off of you next time. You got it?” Alex’s voice booms and echoes through the kitchen, causing me to flinch. Cal hesitates for a moment, but then pulls himself off the floor, grabs his car keys and leaves the house, making sure to slam the door behind him.

My knees give out and I crumble to the floor, the reality of everything hitting me all at once now that it’s over. My hands shake as the adrenaline starts to wear off and my face begins to throb. A strangled cry comes from deep within me. Alex sinks down in front of me and wraps his arms around my body, rocking gently back and forth.

“I’ve got to call this in,” he says as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. I shake my head rapidly.

“No, you can’t do that.” I place my hand over his phone to prevent him from calling anyone.

“You can’t be serious, Elizabeth. He just hit you in the face.” He looks at me in total horror and disbelief.

“You don’t understand.” Tears streak down my face but not because of the physical pain, but for the emotional. I’m trapped in this hell with no way out now, and Cal knows it. He holds it over my head too, knowing that the people I care about are screwed without him.

“Fine, then go upstairs and pack a bag. I’m getting you the hell out of here.” He stands, lifting me up with him and starts toward the stairs.

“I can’t leave him, Alex.” I can’t even look at him when I say this. Here I am, face bruised and swollen, telling someone who cares about me that I’m going to stay with a man who abuses me. He doesn’t stop walking and doesn’t say anything. He just continues walking toward the bedroom. When he gets there, he gently lays me on the bed, his thumb stroking my uninjured cheek tenderly. I want to look away from the intensity and emotion of his stare, but I can’t. I really wish I would’ve met Alex under different circumstances. Maybe we would’ve had a chance.

“Talk to me, sweetheart. What’s going on in that mind of yours? I can get us out of here in ten minutes. Just let me take care of you. Please.” His pleading eyes search mine for the answer he seems to desperately want. My eyes close in relief that my Alex is back; the gentle, caring Alex. I never want to see him like he was with Cal again. Still, it makes it that much harder to deny him when all I want to do is give in and run away with him.

“Oh God, Alex, if I could I would in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t think twice about running away with you. But it’s not just me that I have to worry about.”

“Tell me so I can understand, because right now I can’t think of one damn reason to stay with a man that has more respect for a dog than his own wife.”

“My mom, she’s sick. So if a little disrespect from my husband helps keeps her alive, then so be it.”

Surprise flashes across his face. “Is she going to be okay? What’s wrong with her?” His face softens from the anger that was displayed moments ago. Now he just looks concerned.

“She has multiple sclerosis and she’s doing alright for the time being.” I take a deep breath and start to sit up. Alex leans up with me to allow me to prop myself up on the headboard.

“I want to hear this, but let me run down and get you some ice. You’re face is really swollen.” I nod and he jumps up and sprints downstairs. What will he think of me when I tell him why I stay? Will he see me as a gold digger? A woman who stays for some sort of monetary gain? I’m not sure why, but his opinion of me matters the most. A minute or so later, he returns. “Here. Hold that on your cheek.” I take the ice he has wrapped in a towel out of his hand and put it to my face. My face scrunches up with the pain of touching it. This must look horrible if it feels this bad. “You okay?” Again, I nod. “Tell me about your mom,” he says.