Girl in a Hoodie: Where the Future Lies

Chapter 44

Didn't want to leave you guys on a cliff-hanger so figured I'd update ;)

Riley's POV:

James pulls back suddenly, only a few seconds later and immediately removes his hand from being placed on top of Desirée's. My lip quivers as I breathe in through my nose and pull myself together so as to not break down or let all the hurt that I'm feeling inside of me pour out of control. Biting my lip, I step closer towards the two of them, causing my trainers to make a sound as it hit against the smooth floorboard and I gain both of their attentions as they swivel their heads around to face me, leading onto James instantly giving me a look of worry as he hangs his head.

"So, what is this, hm?" I say, my voice drastically croaking as my knee shook - I couldn't even feel it anymore, it just went numb. "What, is this the little project you two have been working on together? With all the text messages- and th-the phone calls?" I add spitefully, nodding my head in vagueness. James shakes his head.

"Riley, that's not what's happening here," he tells me, so I scoff.

"Isn't it?" I say but at the exact same time as Desirée does. I roll my eyes. "This has got to be some kind of joke or something. I mean, you've done this to me before but now you're doing it again. I trusted you, James. And the fact that you're cheating on me when we're married is so much worse-"

"That was never supposed to happen, you have to believe me."

"But it did!" I exclaim, allowing the tears to fall. I couldn't help it. Despite having suffered from heartbreak multiple times before, it doesn't make it any less painful than it should. "It happened and there's nothing you can do- to take it back," I sigh, feeling the upmost disheartened.

"I've got to go," James's colleague states as I gulp and exhale shortly after at a total loss on what to do or what to even say. She practically pushes me out of the way whilst I stand there, looking at my husband's face of... I don't even know what. I don't know what he's thinking right now or whether he's even planning on how to fix this. I don't know how long the two of them have been going on for and I don't get why it had to happen. I understand that our relationship hasn't been the best since we got married but surely it wasn't so bad for him to go ahead and commit adultery.

When we got married, he took my hands and looked me in the eye and told me in front of everyone that I meant everything to him. Maybe not in those exact words but that's basically what he was admitting to. He was committing his life to me, telling me that he would stick with me through thick and thin. But how am I supposed to believe that when he's just gone ahead and kissed someone else - someone I even had suspicions on but didn't want to take that step in confronting her because I trusted him. 

As it turns silent, I cross my arms over my chest and lick my bottom lip, breathing through my tears, my stomach churning with nausea striving through me. I just want to be sick. If I feel that way then clearly this isn't a healthy relationship. This is exactly what I was dreading before we got married and this is the reason why. I knew we weren't ready for it. I knew that I'd possibly be better off alone... But I couldn't deny the fact that I wanted James to stay with me because I love him so much that I'm scared to go anywhere without him. I'm terrified at the thought of being away from him.

"What was that, Jay?" I mumble, looking at him with a side-eye. He sighs and stands up, getting out of his seat before he reaches me and tries to hold my hands. I step away from him. "Don't," I comment, citing my mannerisms.

"That wasn't supposed to happen, Ri, I promise," he says but I keep on shaking my head regardless. "I love you, babe, you know I do. You're the only girl I care about. Desirée means nothing to me, you have to know that," he tells me, his voice croaking in between.