-
Anna went over conversation after conversation, adding new details to her explanations. Everything she would say would have meaning and tell Jeff exactly how she felt and why she had cheated.
Jeff stood before her at the door. His eyes held an understanding, yet she was skeptical. Her thoughts flowed easily when he wasn't there.
"I am sorry," Anna whispered.
Without saying a word, Jeff sat on the couch. Anna sat up on the other end with her legs crossed. That was one way to stop the nervousness she felt in his presence. He rarely sat on the couch. He had his chair, one that reclined to his comfort. She looked over at his perfect cuddling pose. He had his legs spread between two cushions. She moved closer, needing cuddles after the drama of the day.
Anna compressed onto him, pressing her cheek against his arm. He was cold and unresponsive, enough to fuel her attachment and entice her to hold him tighter.
"Are you still mad?" She asked, rubbing his ankle.
Jeff pulled his arm over, away from her touch, "What do you think?"
Pouting, Anna dropped down to lay on her tummy. He rubbed her head, giving her a dose of affection she craved. Knowing she was regressing, he pushed a finger inside her mouth.
"I'm not that mad. I know I deserved it." Jeff mumbled, playing with her tongue, "I should have never talked to that girl. She was a lazy fuck. Nothing I'd want these days."
Boldly, she licked across his hairy knuckles. She crawled toward him and laid her head against his lap with that as an invite.
Jeff removed his finger and wiped it on his lap, "You are still in trouble, Little girl,"
Anna snuggled closer and lifted his heavy hand, wrapping it around her shoulder, "I'm sorry. Cuddle me, please," she whined.
Jeff obliged, enjoying her warm body against his. Despite the warmth, his jaw tightened with a need for booze. He replayed the encounter with Alex in his mind. Her presence seemed to come out of the blue, along with the knowledge Anna had cheated on him with his cousin. Suddenly, the craving increased. He had waited for Marty and thought to show up at his house. But he remembered his wife was about to pop and changed his mind.
Anna calmed down in his arms and had no idea things were spinning in his mind.
"Alright." Jeff stood up.
Anna shifted up to perch on her knees. He paced to his bar and then back, unsure what to do. Standing to her feet, she examined his face, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Jeff snapped but quickly shook off, "No. Hm, I'm sorry, I am fine. You can stop asking me stupid fucking questions."
Anna frowned, folding her arms, "You're right," she shrugged, "It was a stupid question. I just realized I don't really care anyway."
"Don't be a bitch," he grimaced.
"Don't act like one, and I won't."
Jeff turned to leave, "I'm going to my room. I don't have to deal with your shit tonight."
Wiggling her fingers, Anna dismissed him with a wave, "Buh, bye."
Anna huffed and pushed back on the cushion. The silence was like a boulder. She turned on the television to distract from her hurt feelings.
After a while, the faint smell of cigarette smoke filled the air. She veered her head over to the hallway before walking to his bedroom. From here, the scent was more pungent. She stood for a moment, taking in the courage to knock.
"Jeff!" Anna knocked over the loud television
Sure enough, he answered with a filtered tip in his mouth.
"Ew!" Anna dramatically gagged, "Ugh."
"What?"
Frantically, she waved her hand, "You need to take that outside. I don't want my clothes smelling like smoke."
Jeff lifted his head, blowing out a gust of smoke and frustration that hovered above her. His eyes were glossier and held a bedroom seduction. After the dramatic afternoon, he had a nice buzz that he felt he needed. He was irritated with her and ready to fuck.
"Come here," he waved.
Anna waved her hand back and forth, "No, you go outside. I thought you quit smoking,"
"I started back," Jeff chuckled, "I'm stressed. Why don't you come in here and take some of it away."
"Jeffery, why are you smoking?"
"Why are you worried about me?" Jeff grinned, "Stop following me, and you won't have to smell it. Tell me what you really came in here for?"
Feeling foolish, Anna backed up, "I didn't come in here for that. I.... You just don't need to be smoking. It's not good for you, especially with the medicine you're on."
Jeff took another puff and laughed, "What medicine?"
"On the counter. You're taking blood pressure medication."
"I don't take blood pressure medicine. Those pills are from like years ago."
"You haven't got them refilled?"
"Anna, get the fuck away from me," Jeff tried to close the door.
"Wait, when was the last time you went to the doctor?-"
"I don't fucking know. What's your point? You take one fucking class, and you're giving me medical advice?"
"You are so immature," Anna shook her head in disgust.
Jeff slammed the door shut in her face. He didn't need a mother, and that was what she was giving. Having done what he wanted without guidance for the last 21 years, he wouldn't let a 21-year-old brat tell him what to do.
Anna knocked and knocked, unable to hide her frustration. Her knuckles hurt, but he had to hear her out.
Opening the door, Jeff cleared his throat from the bitter feelings he felt, mixing with his hypertension and the intense rush in his veins. He didn't say anything, but she said it all.
"You need to make an appointment with a doctor this week. Tell him how much you drink a day, be honest, and he will work with you to-"
"Anna. You're really fucking annoying me today."
"Me?" Anna glared, "You're the one too stupid to take care of yourself. If you had high blood pressure years ago, there's a possibility it's gotten worse, and you haven't even checked with a doctor to see If it's better or worse, and ...." Her eyes widened at him, "Oh my god, I've been feeding you everything. The sweets. You could be walking around with diabetes."
"My god, woman. Relax, I don't have diabetes."
Her concern grew to an intense rage at his carelessness, "You wouldn't know because you haven't Been to the doctor!"
Anna was almost out of breath when he rudely interrupted her concerns
"All this coming from a sneaky bitch."
"Don't call me names. You need to...." Anna noticed a white spot on his usually dark brown mustache. She tried to touch it, but he caught her wrist.
"Anna, go play with your toys or something,"
"I knew it!" Anna pointed, "You need help. Like serious help."
"Oh, Shut up, stop being dramatic," Jeff swiped his nose clean, shaking his head.
"I am telling Marla."
Jeff narrowed his eyes before speaking, "Marla is not my mama, and neither are you," he growled.
"Jeff, this is serious. My mother is in prison for maybe the rest of her life because-"
"And mine overdosed on heroin," Jeff admitted, "Do you think I give a fuck," he shrugged, "I'm a 40-year-old man. I can do what I want. I've made it this far."
Anna looked at him with disgust before marching toward the living room. Jeff stood by, awaiting her next move. She flew by him to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Inside her room, keeping quiet, Anna dialed for help, "Hey, Miss Marla, I need to tell you something-"
Anna looked back as Jeff barged into the room. He grabbed the phone and pushed her back onto the bed.
"Hey, Anna is dr-drunk."
"I am not! You-" Jeff grabbed her, stifling her mouth with a quick hug. He continued to explain the situation as she struggled with his hold.
"Probably next month. I still haven't signed the papers on my apartment just yet....." Jeff sat down, pulling her head up against his chest.
"Nommmm!"
"Yeah. ..... of course, they want to spend Christmas with you." Jeff rattled off the conversation, "Alright, Sweet lady. No, ma'am, she's run off to the bathroom, probably throwing up. I love you too, lady."
Jeff hung up and pushed her back on the bed. Holding her phone, he stood above her like a monster.
Anna clawed at her sheets, "I'm sorry, but you need to get help."
Jeff averted his eyes to her phone screen. Anna bit her lip nervously. Having recently reconnected with guys on a dating app, she prayed he didn't see anything incriminating.
Jeff grunted as her phone buzzed against his palm. Fuming, he read the text aloud, sending an orb of discomfort around her shoulders.
"Eric texted, "I can't wait to take you out and show you off."
"I.. we just text. I haven't done...." Anna averted her eyes, "I just texted him, nothing else."
"Is this the same dumbass from the store?" Jeff rubbed his jaw.
"Yeah, but...."
"I thought you didn't know him. You are a lying bitch," Jeff threw her phone at the door, "You've been fucking him the whole time you've been fucking Marty. You are a Fucking slut."
"Can we talk about what I saw?" Anna rolled her eyes to his angry face, "Please, Jeff. You need to stop doing drugs."
"Answer My fucking question, you dirty bitch!"
Her eyes widened at his insult, usually a term of endearment, now brought her to slump, "I didn't fuck him or Marty. He ate me out, but It was only a couple of times. It's not that big of a deal."
"Not that big of a deal? Are you fucking with me? After all I fucking do for you? Did you call him Daddy too?" Jeff sneered, "Get him to play into your sick Kink."
Anna kept her head high, unashamed of what she was, "I knew better than to trust you. It wasn't sick last night, you fucking asshole. You love it when I call you Daddy."
"What the fuck did you just say to me?" Jeff snapped, "TRUST? You've done nothing but Lie to me the entire time. You are not even good at it."
"How long have you been using drugs, Jeff...." She rolled her eyes, unsure why she hadn't seen the signs.
"You're assuming things. Whatever you thought you saw, you didn't see anything."
"I saw-"
