“Maybe you should fuck off,” Mason shouted, drawing attention from onlookers.
April rose and stormed out of the café without even ordering. She heard his phone ring again as he left.
That’ll show him, she thought.I have too much self-respect to tolerate this. I’m stronger than Anna and he knows I’m smarter.She swung her hips as she left, showing him what he’d be giving up.Fuck, I’m hot, she thought.Too hot to be a sidepiece for this long.
As she walked into the office, she bumped into Lilah.Great, she thought.My day just keeps improving.
“April,” Lilah purred. “In a hurry? I thought you were out to lunch with Mason.”
Bitch, she thought.As if she has a clue.
“No, actually, Leela, I just grabbed a quick sandwich,” April replied sweetly.
Lilah’s face hardened at her intentional mispronunciation of her name.
“I didn’t know there was a place around here that served sandwiches with a side of almost-married dick. Google Reviews have really let me down lately,” Lilah said pleasantly.
“Fuck off,” April muttered before pushing past her to sit at her desk.
This is proving to be too much effort, she thought.I have to push him harder.Is it time for a pregnancy scare?She’d rather die than have a brat, but maybe a false alarm would be enough.
Chapter 13: Anna—Generous cats and lost receipts
Anna had spent Sunday at Rosa's, plotting and venting. She came home Sunday afternoon to find Mason waiting on the sofa, flicking through Netflix options. He jumped up and hugged her tight.
“I missed you so much, Princess,” he gushed, giving her a huge kiss before she could pull away. His tongue felt slimy. It wasn’t, but it felt slimy, thick, and too big for her mouth.
She hugged him back briefly before moving to the kitchen under the guise of cooking dinner. “How was the trip,” she asked? “You didn’t call me much. I was worried.”
She watched him in her peripheral vision. He had the decency to look guilty and anguished. “Yeah, it was pretty full on. Sorry, but I promise I’ll make it up to you. Want me to cook dinner?” he asked.
“Nah, I have something special planned. Tacos! Both our favorites, but I’m trying something new with mine. Rosa gave me the recipe for lima bean tacos. Do you want that or fish?”
He made a face. “Fish please.”
Anna smiled. “Why don’t you go play an online game with Brendan while I cook? You must be so tired,” she gushed. Ew. She was even making herself sick with this show.
“Thanks baby. Love you,” he reached out to kiss her again, but she turned her head and waggled her finger at him.
“Baby” and “Princess” in the same day,huh Mason, she thought.He’s either feeling really guilty or they broke up during the week.
“Later mister. I’m busy cooking dinner for my man,” she said cheerfully.
He disappeared and she made tacos. She didn’t really have lima beans. Refried beans would do the trick. Mason didn’t knowhis ass from his elbow in the kitchen and wouldn’t notice. The fish tacos were special. Barnabus was the best cat in the world to let his asshole master have his pilchards cat food. The stench was foul as she stirred the cat food in the small saucepan. She’d have to throw the saucepan away after. Ugh; surely he wouldn’t eat this. Maybe she’d gone too far.
No, not far enough apparently. Mason downed his “fish” taco, though she did notice him gag when he took his first bite. He was obviously not enjoying it, but either guilt or kindness forced him to power his way through. Most likely guilt. He had no kindness.
“This tastes different,” he managed between reluctant bites.
“Yeah, I couldn’t find the usual fish. This is some other fish, but the guy assured me it was good for tacos.”
“Yeah, it’s great,” he choked out. “But I think one is enough for me tonight. The flight made me feel a bit sick.”
Later, Anna feigned a headache and went to bed early. Mason climbed into bed with her later and insisted on holding her, which she reluctantly allowed. His arms felt wrong. The body pressed against her felt wrong.
___________
Monday came and went. Rosa and Mel were keen to discuss how things were going at home. Anna found herself actually enjoying providing the updates. Now that she’d ruled a very bold line under her life with Mason, her pain was considerably less. She felt more in control. Now she was the one with a secret over Mason. He was now the fool, the one in the dark.
