IF SHE: A Psychological Thriller Box Set by Therme Erik

Author:Therme, Erik
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thecker Books
Published: 2024-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Josh does most of the talking during lunch, and the few times Jessie does speak, it’s only to answer questions. She holds Levi the entire meal, always focused on Josh—never me—and when it comes time to leave, she makes a show of thanking Josh numerous times before giving him a hug that lasts far too long.

“I know,” Josh says as soon as she’s gone.

“Know what?” I ask, even though we both know, and I’m not oblivious to the tone of my voice. I hate being this way—hate it—but I can’t help myself. And when I get this way, I can’t stop myself from being this way, no matter how hard I try.

I expect him to start prattling on about how it was Jessie, not him, who insisted on helping prepare the meal and hung on his every word; and he’s right—it was her—but that doesn’t change how it made me feel. The last time I felt so out of place was when we bumped into Josh’s ex-girlfriend Kari years ago, where I made small talk with Kari’s boyfriend as she and Josh reminisced. It was the same thing tonight with the flirting and touching, only this time, I had no one else to distract myself.

But Josh doesn’t prattle. He only sits on the floor next to Levi with a sigh, knowing I need to move past this on my own, and nothing he says or does is going to change that. Maybe I should be thankful he knows this, but it slightly bothers me that he doesn’t at least try.

It's a no-win situation.

“Did you get enough to eat?” he asks.

I know he’s only asking because I picked at my food, and it’s not a commentary on my weight, or my health, or my “state of mind,” but it still rubs me the wrong way.

“Sure,” I answer, to which he frowns. We’re on the verge of an argument, I can feel it, and I tell myself to pull back, that we don’t need to do this now, because I’m going to say something I regret.

“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “It’s not you. It’s just . . . everything.”

“I know,” he says gently, and I know he feels it too. Our life has been a non-stop roller coaster that doesn’t seem to be slowing, and it’s catching up to both of us. “Let’s see if I can make things a little better.”

He slides over, takes my foot, and blissfully begins to rub.

“Oh yeah,” I tell him, closing my eyes. My husband knows the way to my heart. “This definitely helps.”

“I’m sorry Jessie being here made you uncomfortable.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” I lie. “I will admit, it’s kinda eerie talking with her, as she and Torrie look so much alike and share so many mannerisms, like their laugh, and how they wrinkle their nose.”

Josh doesn’t answer, and I don’t expect him to. Most men aren’t observant to these types of details, and if he agreed with me, it’d be the same as him admitting he was being super attentive to the attractive woman who just left our house.

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