Read Online Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages by Natasha Preston - Free Book Online Page B

and my child’s terrified faces all I could see was my wife in the arms of someone else.
    “What would you like for dinner?” she asked, kissing the top of my head as she walked by ten minutes later. I was so grateful for her coming back at that moment and stopping the mental images that plagued my mind.
    “Since you’ve had a long day why don’t we order Chinese?” I replied.
    “Sounds good to me. Shall I order?” she asked, ruffling up her damp, dark blonde hair.
    I nodded.
    She was being weird, acting as if we were practical strangers. I’d seen her be warmer towards traffic wardens. “Are you okay?” I asked.
    “Yeah, fine. Sorry, I just need to relax and forget about work. Why don’t you pour me a glass of wine, and I’ll call the take-away.”
    I stood up, eyeing her suspiciously as she unlocked her mobile. She used the house phone to call landlines. Why was she keeping that so close to her? I forced myself to look away and get on with making her a drink. Second-guessing everything she did made me feel like shit.
    I trusted her. Nothing was going on. Nothing could be going on because it’d crush me and end us. I wanted our marriage to work. She left the kitchen, but I heard her placing our usual order. My stomach turned. What if she was cheating?
    There was no way I could forgive her again. We’d be over. The thought of her with another man was painful. Did he get her fun playfulness and leave me with the withdrawn distant woman?
    “Abby,” I called as I heard her say bye.
    She stepped out from the living room. “Yes?”
    “What’s going on? You’re distant, and it’s more than work.”
    She froze for a second and then frowned. “It’s not more. Nothing is wrong. I’m tired, Jasper, that’s all.”
    Tired all the time? I didn’t believe that. It was a copout.
    “No, you either treat me as if I’m in the way, or you’re indifferent. Have I done something?”
    She sighed. “You’ve not done anything. I have.”
    The colour drained from my face. “What?” I whispered.
    “All of our plans have changed, and it’s my fault. Do you think it’s easy to see the disappointment in your eyes knowing that I’m the cause? I’m angry because I hurt you and I’m angry at you for not understanding.”
    “That’s shit. How many times have I told you I understand? I do, Abby, and I’ve never tried to make you feel bad about it. I am disappointed; I can’t help it, but I’ve never tried to make you feel worse about it. If you’re feeling guilty, that’s on you.”
    Now I was pissed off. How dare she blame me when all I’d done was support her? I’d encouraged her to go for the Deputy Head of English and then the Head of English jobs. I was the one waiting in the car after her interview and taking her out to dinner after. How fucking dare she suggest that I want a child over her career aspirations?
    “Well thank you very much! Now I feel a whole lot better!” she shouted.
    “Why’re you being like this? I’m not fighting with you so lower your voice and talk to me the way you used to. What is going on?”
    Her face reddened. She was angry. Well so was I.
    “You’re making me out to be the bad one.”
    I threw my arms up in exasperation. “I’m not making you out to be anything!”
    “Don’t think I don’t know that look your mum gave you when you said we’re waiting to have a baby.”
    “What look?” Jesus, I swear she sees what she wants to.
    “She knew it was because of me.”
    “So!”
    Abby glared. “So?”
    “Yeah. So. It doesn’t matter whose idea it was. We’re married, Abby, so I’ll fucking stick by whatever you want to do. I don’t care if my mum or your parents want a grandchild now if one of us isn’t ready, for whatever reason, we’re waiting.”
    Tears filled her eyes, and she leant back against the wall. What the fuck now?
    “I hate the way things are between us,” she whispered.
    “So do I. Why is it like this? I don’t resent you for wanting to