Page 25 of Stone
Lies, lies, lies, all lies.
“Please, Donna, get me out of here!” I panic, and she quickly pulls on my arm and drags me outside just as a few customers come into the diner, looking at us with furrowed brows.
Just as we get outside, my first tear falls, and Donna curses and drags me to her beetle, opening the passenger door, then shoving me inside, and just as she shuts the door, gut-wrenching sobs tear from me so hard I can’t breathe, and my stomach aches.
He’s married.
Donna curses again and quickly puts her car in reverse and speeds off down the road just as the door to the diner opens, my boyfriend and his wife most likely exiting.
Wife, he has awife.
“I need to leave,” I whisper, my first instinct to run and run quick an hour later, breathing still difficult.
I know I’m going to have to leave my sister, my parents, but I-I can’t stay here, I can’t see him every day knowing he used me, that he has-has…
Donna replies, “Are you sure you want to –”
Her words cut as I look at her, my tears blurring as I choke, “I need to leave,” and whatever she sees in my eyes, whether it’s the downward spiral that is about to come out, or the pure agonizing pain, she repeats, “You need to leave.”
Nodding to herself, she grabs her phone and presses a few buttons before the ringing echoes in her car.
“Hello, Sally Millies speaking,” Sally answers, and my bottom lip wobbles.
“Hey Sally, it’s Donna,” my friend replies, putting on her quirky fake voice while she squeezes my hand. She lies, “I’ve got some good news for you, I’ve managed to convince Rose to take the course in New York.”
More tears fall, and I lie my head on Donna’s shoulder, grateful she’s taking charge.
“Seriously?” Sally gasps with excitement.
Donna hums and states, “I did, but we need to act quickly before she changes her mind, like in the next day or two quickly.” She side-eyes me, then fake giggles, “All it will take is one look from her sister and she’ll change her mind.”
More like one lie from Cage because of how much I’ve allowed myself to fall in love with him.
“They’ve still got the place for her,” she instantly agrees, “and there’s an apartment with her name on it. Leave it with me, but tell Rose to begin packing for the year, I won’t have her change her mind. I’ll text her the flight details later.”
Sally hangs up without a word, only an excited squeal, and I can’t even laugh. Heck, my lips don’t even tilt.
Donna lays her head on top of mine and whispers, “I’m going to miss you,” just as my phone beeps.
I check it, and a sob releases as I turn my phone and show it to Donna.
My Cage:
I love you, my red, see you in a few days
“If he loved you, he wouldn’t have a wife, he wouldn’t have lied about being a brother or put your life in danger by beginning an affair,” she growls as she grabs my phone and snaps, “Let me change your number. You need a fresh start, and hopefully, his old lady doesn’t find out about you.”
Old lady, he has an old lady, a wife.
More tears fall as my heartbreak makes it harder and harder to breathe. I sob, allowing my friend to hold me in my pain, knowing in the next few days we won’t see each other for a year, but I need this.
I need to leave.
He branded my name on his chest, and when his wife finds out, I’ll have a bounty on my head, even though I had no idea hewas married, that he was taken. I had no idea he made me the other woman.
Damn, he made me the other woman…
Chapter 11
