He practically sprinted out of the bathroom. I heard him gathering up the dead animals with whispered apologies to them and then the front door opening and closing as he left.
I pulled myself up using the sink and stared at my reflection. I looked like death. My hair was a mess, my face was pale, my eyeshad dark circles that rivaled Mal’s from his month of misery. Pregnancy was really doing wonders for my appearance.
I changed into comfortable clothes while he was gone. Maternity leggings that were supposed to be supportive but mostly just compressed my legs into sausages. An oversized sweater that used to be baggy but now just accommodated my stomach. Slip-on shoes because bending over to tie laces was a distant memory.
Then I pulled out my phone and opened the group chat with my friends.
Wen:So Mal just brought home two dead chickens and a rabbit he hunted himself
Wen:Like actually hunted. In the woods. Then brought them to my kitchen
Wen:I threw up
Krystin:LMAOOOOO
Krystin:I’m crying
Krystin:That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all week
Bella:oh my god
Bella:is he trying to impress you with his hunting skills?
Daphne:that’s actually kind of sweet in a very disturbing caveman sort of way
Wen:It was NOT sweet it was traumatic
Wen:There were FEATHERS
Krystin:so are you going to forgive him or keep torturing him?
Bella:yeah important question
Bella:because watching you torture him is entertaining but also we want you to be happy
I stared at the messages and really thought about it.
Wen:I don’t know. I know I’ll forgive him eventually. I love him too much not to.
Wen:But I want to make him sweat first. Suffer a little.
Wen:He rejected me in front of his entire court and called me a whore
Wen:I think I’m entitled to some payback
Krystin:oh i LOVE where this is going
Krystin:what are you thinking?
Daphne:please tell me it involves public humiliation
Wen:Better. I need your help with something wicked
Bella:we’re listening
Krystin:say less. what’s the plan?
I typed out my idea. They responded immediately with enthusiasm and suggestions. Krystin said she’d call her cousinJames right away. He owed her a favor from when she’d helped him move last year and this would be the perfect way to cash in.
