I blinked back more tears.
“My finances are tight. With our increased expenses, I took on additional shifts at the Tavern, and I’m running ads online to get more web design customers. You know I work a lot.”
Guilt flashed across his face before his expression turned solemn.
“I believe you,” he said. “Sorry I lost my mind. It hurts to think you might do that to me, but I should know better. I trust you. I just let me insecurities get to me.”
He squeezed my hand, and his face brightened with a smile.
“We should go on a date soon. Where would you like to go? We can get dressed up the way you like and drive into the city, or go camping under the stars. You love that.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was fine.
Fine. Vanessa’s words echoed in my head, but I pushed them aside. Not everybody got the fairy tale, but I had a good enough life.
“That sounds great.” I beamed at him. “I really do have to get ready for work, but I’ll think about it tonight. It’ll be great to refocus on our relationship.”
We were busy at work due to basketball on the premium sports channel, so I didn’t have the opportunity to come up with date ideas. Maybe anovernight camping trip would be fun, though Beau wasn’t much of a camper. It warmed my heart that he suggested one of my favorite activities, though.
When I got home, he was asleep. Since he had to get up at four a.m., I expected it. After I got ready for bed, I crept through our bedroom, hoping he put his clothes in the basket so I didn’t trip over them in the dark. He reeked of beer, which meant loud snores and deep sleep, but there was still a chance I’d wake him.
I slid into bed, exhausted and ready to fall into the arms of Morpheus myself, but I was unable to relax. My mind whirred. On my way home, one of Beau’s earlier accusations blared in my head repeatedly.
He brought up stealing from me. Where did that idea come from? That never occurred to me until he mentioned it, but now it was on repeat in my head. Plus, it made no sense that two different utilities would have clerical errors at the same time. And after months of disinterest, he wanted to take me on a date.
Something was wrong, and I ignored the signs. Because it was easier.
When I examined the situation objectively instead of worrying about my living situation and finances, an ugly pattern emerged. I was ashamed and angry at how easily he manipulated me.
But I was also smart. Smarter than he ever gave me credit for being. I got a full scholarship and a prestigious job right after graduation because I was smart.
Vanessa was both right and wrong. Beau wasn’t good for me, but he wasn’t the one who diminished me. He was the catalyst, but I let it happen.
No more.
After much internal debate, I sneaked his phone off the bedside charger. The lock screen lit up. Anxious, I held my breath, but Beau kept snoring.With bated breath, I headed for the living room to find proof of what I suspected.
Beau had become increasingly paranoid about me cheating on him, so we both created biometric logins for the other on our phones. I’d never checked his phone before, but I was confident he checked mine regularly. Since I had nothing to hide, I convinced myself it didn’t bother me.
To my surprise, my fingerprint didn’t work on his phone. Beau deliberately locked me out of his phone after making a big deal about it.
I tried every password I knew, and nothing worked. I searched his man cave with no luck. While I was there, I went through all the mail with growing fury. Our electric bill had risen, that part was true, but not to the extent he told me. My ‘half’ now paid the entire amount. Or it would have if he submitted the payment.
We split our groceries 50/50. Since I did the shopping, I knew prices had gone up, so I naively trusted his word about our other bills. It was all a lie. I gave him more than ever, but he wasn’t paying the bills. Where did the money go?
I paced his man cave—a room I paid for, though I wasn’t a welcome guest—and weighed my options. I needed answers, and I couldn’t trust him to provide them. Exhaustion dragged at me, but sleep wasn’t on my agenda. It would be impossible to lie next to him as if everything was normal. The scales were ripped from my eyes now.
Around two a.m., I accepted what I had to do. After I ensured my calico, Miss Priss, was asleep in her cat bed in the living room, I tiptoed back into the bedroom I shared with a thieving liar.
I broke out in a cold sweat as I slowly moved his arm towards the edge of the bed. He rolled towards me, and I froze. After his breathing evened out again, I carefully unlocked his phone with his fingertip. Then I hurried out of the room as quickly as I dared.
By the time I found my answers, I wanted to cry and rage. Instead, I photographed everything with my phone and emailed it to myself and Vanessa.
Beau would be waking soon, and I needed to replace his phone, climb back into bed, and pretend to sleep. After he went to work, I’d have time to figure out my next steps.
Chapter 4
JAKE
