DON'T CHEAT ON ME!

CHAPTER 8: Deceivers

Jordan pushed open the door of the house, the familiar scent of wood and old furniture filling his senses.

It was 6:09 PM-later than he'd expected to be back. The trip to town had taken longer than usual, the roads packed with people doing their shopping for the week.

Jordan had stayed in town longer than planned to pick up food and supplies for their two-weeks stay in the province, but now, as he stood in the doorway, he was struck by how quiet everything seemed.

"Babe? Patricia?"

He called out, his voice echoing slightly in the stillness of the house. No response.

The last time he'd checked his phone had been just after he'd left the market. There's no messages from Patricia, even a couple of missed calls-but he already knows that the signal here is too poor. There was no signal also in the town and the drive home had been long and tiring.

He tossed his bag of groceries down by the door, then kicked off his boots and walked through the hallway, calling out again.

"Patricia? Dave?"

"Where are you guys?"

The house remained eerily quiet. The only sound was the soft hum of the radio in the living room. As he reached the second floor, he noticed Patricia sitting on the sofa, her legs tucked underneath her. She had headphones in and was listening to something, probably the radio, but as soon as she heard his footsteps, she pulled them out and turned to him.

She smiled when she saw him, though there was a subtle tightness around her eyes.

"Babe, you're back"

She said, her voice warm but strained.

"I was getting worried about you. I've been trying to reach you all day!"

Jordan stopped just inside the room, his gaze flicking to the phone on the coffee table. Sure enough, there were no missed calls and a string of unread texts, most of them sent early in the morning, asking where he was, if he was okay. Those messages weren't delivered.

"Sorry, I didn't have a signal,
you know how it is."

Jordan said, his tone apologetic but also slightly confused.

Patricia nodded, but there was a slight hesitation in her response.

"Yeah, I figured it out. Still no signal, but Babe I'm worried about you."

Her voice was a little softer now, almost like she was trying to keep her tone light, but Jordan could still hear the undercurrent of worry.

"It's too late, good to know you're home safe."

Jordan felt the weight of her words, a flicker of guilt in his chest. But he didn't have time to dwell on that. His eyes moved over to the kitchen, expecting to see Dave lounging around, maybe drinking a beer or messing with something. But there was no sign of him.

"Where's Dave?"

He asked, trying to sound casual, but a hint of suspicion already creeping into his voice.

Patricia shifted slightly on the couch, glancing toward the kitchen and then back at him.

"Oh, he... uh, he went for a walk, I think. Needed to get some fresh air. You know how he is."

Jordan's brow furrowed.

"A walk?"

He couldn't hide the disbelief in his voice.