Page 51 of HER: A Psychological Thriller
That’s where he went with it. So, I did too. In a different sort of way. He needs something to punish me for? Fine. Because I’ve spoken with a therapist as well. We’ve become very close, and she assures me that marriage is about meeting the other person’s needs. Which is why, this round, I’ve gone all in.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
SADIE
One afternoon, as Chet and I are rebuilding my fence, Ann appears at the edge of my yard. “What on earth?” she asks surveying the mess.
“You’re back,” I say.
Her head cocks, and her brow furrows making it clear that she has worked out in her mind what is going on. If she has this reaction, I can’t imagine the one my husband will have. “This feels like a party I wasn’t invited to.”
I smile. The satisfaction of surprising her gives me great joy. Plus, smiling is easier than telling the truth: working alongside Chet was better than hanging out alone. Nailing boards into place seemed like it might be therapeutic. I’d filed for a divorce that morning, thereby initiating the final round of our game. If the vet bill hadn’t done the job, no doubt asking for half of his wealth would.
“IT FEELS like we haven’t had a proper conversation in forever…it looks like you’ve been busy while I was away,” she says to me the following morning over coffee.
“Not really.”
She glares at me over her mug. “You got a pet, remodeled half of your home, lost a bit of weight…”
I can’t help but smile at the fact that she noticed. She’s right. I have slimmed down, and I’m about to be nearly one hundred and sixty pounds lighter, a bit of information I intend on saving for the right time.
“But I asked you to keep an eye on things, Sadie.”
“I did.”
“That’s not entirely true though, is it?”
“What do you mean?”
She licks her lips, and it makes me think of the other pussy in my life. Cunning and calculated. “You broke a promise.”
“Everything was fine,” I assure her. “Amelia was home when she was supposed to be. I called the landline, like you said.”
“Did you watch her though? Really watch her?”
“Well—no—but—”
“It’s fine,” Ann says cutting me off. “Like I said, you were busy.”
I tear a piece off of the Danish she has shoved in my direction. She tells me to eat, so I do. The last thing I want is to further offend her.
“You have to be careful around your handyman,” she says, refilling my coffee, baring her teeth. “You’ll never win Ethan back if you get yourself tangled up in that mess.”
“He’s nice.”
“I can see that.” She sits down on the barstool next to me. Her eyes search mine. “I also saw the way he looks at you—the way you flirt with him. Seems a bit more than nice if you ask me.”
“It’s nothing,” I say. “Just friendly banter.”
“Just friendly banter can be trouble, Sadie.” She hops off of the barstool and strides across the kitchen. “Which would be a shame. You’re doing so well, losing weight, getting on your feet. The last thing you need right now is a complication…”
“I—”
She shakes her he
ad. “Don’t argue. What you’re doing is trouble, and you know it. What you’re doing is—playing with fire. I just hope you don’t come crying to me when you get burned.”
“We’re just friends that’s all.”