Igentlystrokedmystomachandleanedbackagainstthesofa.
Forthefirsttime,Ifelthowbigandemptythishousewas,soquietitwasalmostterrifying.
Suddenly,myphonescreenlitupwithafriendrequestnotification.
IhadastronghunchthatthepersonaddingmewasStacy.
Andsureenough,assoonasIaccepted,shepostedanewstatusonhersocialmedia.
[Thankyouforstayingupsolatetodecorateournewhomeformeandthebaby.Fromnowon,wellhaveafresh start.] Thepictureshepostedshowed Stacyspregnantbelly,withastrong,capablehandgentlyrestingon it.
Iglancedatthetimeonmyphone.
Itwas12:37a.m.Joeywasdecoratinganewhomeforhisfirstloveonourweddinganniversary.
Andthroughouttheentireday,Joeyhadcompletelyforgottenaboutit,notmentioningitevenonce.
Thephonescreenreflectedmyredeyesandthetearsconstantlywellingupinthem.
IforcedaselfmockingsmileandgaveStacyspostalike.
Afterawhile,IdidntwaitupforJoeyasusual.

Icasuallyputthegifthebroughtmeintothedisplaycabinet,tookashower,andwenttobed.
Andthatgift,Icouldguesswithmyeyesclosed,wasGivenchysLINTERDIT,Stacysfavoriteperfume… IhadoriginallythoughtthatwithJoeywrappedaroundStacyslittlefinger,heprobablywouldntcomehometonight.
Butunexpectedly,atthreeinthemorning,themattressdippedasJoeywrappedhisarmsaroundme:Whydidyougotosleepwithoutwaitingformethistime? Ismelledthestrongscentofwomensperfumeonhimandmyvoiceturnedhoarse:Iwasjusttiredtoday.
Afterfiveyearsofmarriage,thiswasthefirsttimeIhadlostmyenthusiasmforJoey.
Joeysarmsaroundmestiffenedforamomentashewhispered,Sorry,IforgotaboutouranniversarybecauseIwastoobusyyesterday.Illmakeituptoyoubytakingyououtfordinnertonight,okay? IoncecravedJoeystenderness,butnowhearingit,therewasnoflutterinmyheart.
AllIcouldthinkwaswhetherhewasalsocoaxingStacylikethis.
21:50 99BloodyLashesAndABulletToHisHeart 60.8% Chapter2 Okay.
Inthatinstant,Iwassomewhatgratefulforthedarknessthatcouldhidemyred,soureyes.
Joeyfrownedslightly,clearlynotusedtomycoldness:Haveyoubeeninabadmoodlately?Whyareyousoindifferent? Indifferent? ThislevelofindifferenceprobablystilldidntcomparetoevenatenthofJoeystowardsme.
MaybeImjusttootired lately,Isaidwearily,turningoverandfacingawayfromJoey.Letssleep.
Joeystemperflaredforamoment,andhethrew offthecoversandgotupagain.
Frombeginningtoend,hedidntseethepregnancyreportIhadleft onthebedsidetable… Thecoldairfromthekickedoffcoversclenched myheart,andIdidntfallasleepuntildawn.

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Thenextday,Igotupasusual,exhausted,andwenttowork.
Intheevening,whenacolleagueaskedifIwasstayinglate,Ithought ofJoeyspromisetotakemeoutfordinnerandreplied,No.
ButassoonasIleftthehospital,IgotacallfromJoeycancelingourdinner.
Sorry,Ihavetoworklateattheairlinetonight.Wellhavetoreschedule.
MaybeImusedtobeingletdownsomanytimesthatitdoesnthurtasmuchanymore.
Okay,Ipresseddownthedullpaininmychest andhungupthephone,headingtothenearestsupermarket.
Ididntexpectthatwhen Iwas puttingthefreshlyweighedvegetablesintomyshoppingcart,Iwouldheara familiarmalevoicenearby.
Youcanteatlycheeswhenyourepregnant.
IturnedmyheadandsawStacyandJoey,whohadsaidhewouldworklate.
Joey tookthelycheesoutofStacyshandandputthemback:Youcaneatasmany asyouwantlater,but notnow.
Hisvoicewascold,buthistonewasgentleandindulgent.
AndStacy,pretendingtowanttoeat,obedientlyletJoeyput thelycheesback,clearlyenjoyingbeingdisciplinedby Joey.

ShewasevensohappythatshejumpedupandtightlyhuggedJoeysarm.
Joey,youresogentle.Youregoingtobeagreatdad! Myheartached asIthoughtofmyunbornchild… 61.1% 00pland..LashaAnd ADullatToHisHeart Chapter2 WouldJoeytakecareofmeanddisciplinemelikethisifheknewIwaspregnant? Atthatmoment,Stacysuddenlywavedatme:DoctorBennett, areyouheretoo? Shecameoverandwarmlytookmyhand:Ididntgettothankyouforthecheckuplasttime.
Yesterday,Stacyaddedmeonsocialmediaandpostedaprovocativestatus.
Today,shewaspretendingnottoknowmehere.
IfeltabituncomfortableandfrownedasIpulledmyhandaway.
Ididntusemuchforce,butStacysbodysuddenlyfellbackward.
Joeyquicklysteppedforwardtosupportherandsternlyaccusedme:Becareful!Stacyispregnant! Myfaceturnedpaleindisbelief.
DidheloveStacysomuchthathecouldntseethroughsuchalowleveltrap? And Stacywaspregnant,butsowasI,wasntI? Idugmyfingernailsintomypalm:Andyou?Didntyousayyouwereworkinglate? Joeysfacechanged,andaflickerofguiltcrossedhisdarkeyes.
Stacycurvedherlipsintoafakelookofconfusionandsurprise:Ah,Joey,soyouandDoctorBermettknoweach other? IlookedatJoey.
Isawhiseyesdodge,histhinlipspressedtightlytogetherinsilence,clearlynotplanningtorevealourrelationship toStacy.
Igaveamockingsmile,followedbyadeeper senseofdisappointment:Idontknowhim.
ThenIpushedmycartaway.