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But now I just felt stupid.

I heard his feet on the stairs, and I dashed into the bathroom, not wanting him to find me lurking on the stairs.

“Babe. I’m going to grab us some food because there’s nothing in. I thought we could cook for your parents tonight. I can do it if you don’t feel up to it?” he stood in the doorway then, his hands holding on to the top of the frame, exposing his taut stomach. He frowned as he gazed at me, his deep stare boring into my soul.

“Gretchen, what’s wrong?”

Despite my intentions, the words slipped out of my mouth in an angry snarl.

“Who thefuckis Beth?!”

I noticed the color drain from his face as my heart raced, causing me to hold onto the sink.

“What?” he whispered in disbelief as I nodded at him.

“Answer me! Who the fuck is Beth?”

I stood close to him now, unable to imagine that this man could hurt me this way. But in his eyes, I saw the secret, and I sucked in a breath.

He closed his eyes as he exhaled, a look of frustration on his face.

“If I say nothing and noone, will you leave it?” his tone was pleading as I laughed harshly.

“Absolutely fucking not! Are you fucking her?! Is that why you went back to New York?” I was shaking as I asked him, visions of him with some scantily clad whore burning through my retinas.

I’ll kill her. Then him.

He raised his eyebrows as he gaped at me in a stunned silence, before I fixed him with a deadly gaze.

“You need to fucking answer me rightnow, Cal Fallon, before I rip your balls off and ram them down your throat.”

To my horror he began to laugh, and I shoved him in the chest angrily.

“I’m not fucking anyone else, princess, come on! I swear, it’s nothing like that.”

I folded my arms as I waited. He sighed as he put his hands on my shoulders, which I shrugged off angrily.

“I’m waiting.”

“You're going to ruin the surprise,” he said quietly.

“Oh, I’m surprised alright. Spit it out, Cal.”

“I’m taking you away for your birthday. Beth is the travel agent, and she’s sending the tickets over to my email as we speak. Enjoy your bath.” He turned and walked away, disappointment on his face as I stared after him with a mixture of disbelief and regret.

Oh, fuck.

Part Two: Chapter Twenty-Four

GRETCHEN

You really don’t trust me, huh?”

I shifted from one foot to the other, squirming under his gaze. How could I possibly explain my overreaction? My cheeks burned as he slid his phone over the table to me, opening his hands out.

“Read the email, if it puts your mind at rest. Her name is there, her contact number too, if you want to call her,” He sounded wounded, his voice full of disappointment. I shook my head, not wanting to further spoil the surprise. “Gretchen, have I ever given you reason to doubt me?”

I chewed on my lip as I considered his question. “Well—”