Butchered Beasts 1: Darren & EJ

Chapter 2

EJ POV

Shooting a quick text to my little sister, Hunter, that I might need her to watch the kids for me tomorrow, I hurried to pretend to be asleep when he came in. I shut my eyes, slowed my breathing, and gave a little snore now and then. I could smell him as he stumbled towards the bed. His breath on my face made me want to puke, but I had to hold it together.

"Fucking seriously? Again?" I heard him slur out before grunting and getting up to go to the ensuite bathroom. The water turns on, which means I have anywhere from ten to forty-five minutes, depending on how drunk he was. Which, if his breath is any indicator, very. I pulled out my phone, and seeing the text was delivered, but not read, I sent another.

EJ: Hunter. I have to be at the lab at six! I need you here by six-thirty! Please! He's fucking wasted!

Read.

No dots. No text bubble. Nothing.

EJ: Please. He won't be up til like...two. In the afternoon. While the kids are soiled in their rooms. Please.

Read.

SHIT!

The ringer on my phone went off, causing me to silence it, looking around like someone might have heard. I swear I felt like one of those cartoons that tosses the loud, offending item into the air, then bounces it from hand to hand, all the while, anxious that someone might have heard the commotion, so they keep looking around while still fumbling the damn phone making all the racket. Finally, silencing the item, the character looks around, seeing no one, letting out a sigh of relief only to be shushed.

That's what I feel like right now.

Whispering, still scanning my surroundings, "Hello?" My hand cupped around my mouth and where the microphone in the cellphone was.

A half awake, half asleep, all grumpy Hunter asks, "Why?"

"Why what?" I whisper back.

"Why won't he be up until then? Won't he hear the kids and go get them?" Her bored voice asks.

"Not when he's back this early. Means he either left work early, or he left on time and hit the liquor hard." Why was I the only one whispering now? "Can you be here by then? Seven at the latest?" I wasn't above begging. I just couldn't afford to reimburse her right away. Currently, all my funds that I wasn't paying out in bills, were in a savings account for a rainy day, that I was pretty sure was coming sooner than later. I heard his phone chime twice while he was in the shower. Probably a girlfriend.

When I started on this journey of finally getting my RN, he was all excited. He was so supportive. I started working part-time. Something, deep within me, something that was almost an urging, that was so strong I thought I'd lose it if I didn't do it. So, I did. Then I lied when he asked how much I was making. I don't know what made me do it, but I'm happy now that I did. That was ten months ago. I'm making $22/hr, but he thinks I only make $17/hr. I figured out how much I'd be making after taxes at 17 an hour, working no more than twenty-four hours a week, and that's what I told him I brought home. That's what I said I could spend on bills. It was a big chunk of my pay, but I needed him to buy it so I could save something. Then, something would 'break' that I'd need to either spend my own money that week, or Patrick would give me the money. Like, for the kids' birthdays a few months ago, I bought all the decorations and stuff at the dollar store. Told him I got it on Amazon and that I had some stuff custom-made. Which I did. But I used my own card to pay for those because I wanted to keep them.

He was giving me money, and I would spend as little of it as possible while still giving the kids each a nice party, and taking care of what needs taking care of. I just added the 'extra' money into my savings. For safekeeping. I had about $2400 that I saved myself. With the 'contributions' from Patrick, it was closer to four grand. Not bad for a nest egg, but I need to make sure I can buy a little more time. I will to find somewhere else if I need to. I'll start tomorrow after lab. I'll look back home. See if there's anything available near there.

"I'll be there." I'm pulled from my frantic thoughts by Hunter, "I'm going back to bed. I love you. Call you when I get there." I don't even get a chance to thank her before she's hung up. More than likely trying to pass back out quickly. Tucking my phone under my pillow, I heard the bathroom door open. I hurried to shut my eyes, resuming my opossum play. It wasn't long before I heard the snores coming from his side of the bed. I still waited an extra thirty minutes before getting up with my phone, sneaking to get his phone, and then making a bee-line for the bathroom. Unlocking his phone, I could see that nothing was too different. I searched his socials, achieved messages, and blocked lists, but nothing. I went through his call logs and his app list. I was just about to give up when I remembered reading something on a Reddit post about infidelity. Someone in the comments said to check battery usage. I went into his settings, quickly finding the battery usage.

Snapchat.

Numerous dating apps.

His texts.

Pulling up his snap, I started opening every thread. I open the camera on my phone and hit record as I start scrolling through his snatchchat. Because that's what this looks like. Just a bunch of snatches on his 'snatchchat'. Then I go through each, individual, text thread. More of the same. There are some from as recent as yesterday and tonight. Claiming himself to be single, with no children? Ah. I see.

He turned 40 and lost his goddamn mind! Cheating is the way to, for lack of a better word, plow through this midlife crisis? I see. Well, that makes what I'm about to do all the easier. Quietly sneaking back to his side of the bed, I plug his phone back in. Placing it in the same spot, before creeping back over to my side of the bed.

He's cheating. I didn't think he would.

I feel my eyes getting glassy, the water pooling at the back of my eyes. I feel the tiny tsunamis on my eyelashes. I blinked rapidly, trying to get the tears to go away, but that only seemed to make them spring into action that much quicker. Shit. The first sob left me. I put my hands over my mouth to try to keep as quiet as I could. I didn't want him to know. I'll talk to him tomorrow and tell him he has three months to clean his shit up or I'm done. I'll give myself tonight.

Tears flowed freely down my cheeks. My hands still pressed against my mouth to keep any sobs or cries that threatened to come out inside. My body shook and trembled as I cried. The hardest I'd ever cried. This was the end of my marriage. There was no fighting for this. I poured so much into the him and the kids, but now I can focus all of my attention on the two of them. I will be able to dedicate everything now that I don't have to worry about pleasing that asshole of a husband.

My children are my life. And finishing nursing school.

I can fall apart later.