Twisted Reality (Blind Reality #2)

by Heidi McLaughlin

  “She left.”

  “What do you mean she left?”

  “I mean Joey decided to look at her wedding dress today and found it ripped to shreds, along with an assortment of fucking photos of you and Jules. And because that wasn’t enough torture, she decided to go snooping in your closet and found an article about you and Jules going to a doctor’s appointment so she fucking left you, Josh,” he says, standing.

  “I warned her about you and Jules, but she wouldn’t listen. And when Jules said she was pregnant I told you both that it’s not yours, but you have the gall to tell Joey that Jules wouldn’t lie to you? Look at this mess, Josh. Do you think Joey tore up her own fucking dress? Do you think she took pictures of Jules lying on your bed? When did you think it would be okay for you and Jules to pose for pictures while you’re cuddled up on your couch? Newsflash, buddy, it’s never fucking okay. You should’ve let Joey go when the show ended.”

  I’m trying to digest Bronx’s words, but they’re muted and mumbled. I can’t get past keywords of Joey being gone, her dress being ruined, and Jules. I can see the picture on the table, but my vision is blurred from a mixture of tears and anger. Why would Joey leave and not talk to me about this first?

  Because she’s been down this path before, that’s why. And I promised to never do that to her.

  “Where is she, Bronx?”

  He shrugs. “I’m not fucking telling you.”

  “She’s my wife,” I say with authority. “I have a right to know.”

  “Your rights sailed when you stuck your dick back into Jules. Here’s what I don’t get, Josh. Joey fucking loves you. She worships the ground you walk on, why do this to her? Why fill her head with false promises?”

  “I didn’t. I do love her. This shit with Jules …” I pick up a photo—it’s of her and me together, but I don’t remember taking it. “I didn’t take these and I haven’t been to any appointments with her.”

  “There’s proof,” he says, picking up the heap on the table and dropping it back down. “How do you explain all of this? And her dress, Josh? Joey opened her fucking home to that witch and this is how she repays her?”

  I sit down and rake my hands over my face, groaning out loud in frustration. “The dress was in Joey’s closet, which would mean Jules went in there on one of the nights she showed up here.” I pick up a tattered piece of her dress; it’s an off-white, almost beige color and reminds me of the champagne we shared after she agreed to marry me again. Tears prickle my eyes as I clutch the fabric to my chest.

  “I didn’t cheat, nor did I lie to her,” I tell Bronx even though I don’t owe him anything. “I’m so in love with her, it hurts. I physically ache when she’s not near me, and knowing that I knocked up Jules kills me inside every single day. I know its destroying Joey, too. I would never do this to her, go to those appointments and not tell her.”

  “Yeah, well, it sure looks like it.”

  The photos are spread out all over the couch, mocking me. I pick up a few and feel the bile burning my throat. Jules spread out on our bed in nothing but a shirt with her bulging belly sticking up. She’s smiling, like this is some kind of game to her. But who took the photo? When was she in our house when we weren’t home?

  “The baby isn’t yours, Josh.”

  “Why do you keep saying that? Is it to give Joey hope that this nightmare goes away?”

  He shakes his head and sits back down on the couch as if he’s welcome. He’s not. I want him to leave after he tells me where to find my wife.

  “Because I was with her the night before I met Rebekah, which happens to be about a month before you went on the show. I made the mistake of bringing Jules back to my apartment. We had been drinking and shit started getting heavy. She’s a sure fucking thing, so I fucked her.”

  “You son of a bitch! This whole time I’m sweating bullets, trying to reassure my wife that I’m devoted to her and you’re the fucking father?”

  “No, I’m not. When I was with her she had an implant in her arm. I’m not a fucking doctor, but unless she took it out and you have miracle sperm I doubt she can be pregnant by you.”

  It’s the same shit he’s been spewing to Joey for months, but I haven’t listened because I wanted to trust Jules. We had been together, but I can’t recall when the last time was. I know we had been and I hadn’t been using a condom. That thought alone makes my stomach roll.

  “I don’t have a clue who she was with while I was in the house.”

  “It wasn’t me. I know you have a hard time believing that Rebekah and I are married, but it’s true. The Rebekah I met isn’t the one you and Joey know. She had purple hair and wanted to party. The best part about her, she didn’t have a fucking clue who I was and that made everything more enticing with her. The one-night stand turned into a weekend and three weeks later she’s telling me that she’s pregnant. She hadn’t left my side so I knew it was mine. We went down to the justice of the peace and got married.”

  “Rebekah’s pregnant?”

  He shakes his head. “About two weeks before Barry called us, she miscarried and said it was a sign that her wild ways were over. Dyed her hair back to her natural color and started making me go to church.”

  “Holy shit, but I’m confused. I thought you told Joey that you met Rebekah at church?”

  “I did because I wasn’t about to out our secret on national television. No one knows about the miscarriage and I want to keep it that way. Rebekah knows I’m a sinner. Hell, she was, too, but has been repenting ever since. She thinks it’s her fault she lost the baby even when I tell her that these things happen and we can try again. When it comes down to it, she loves me and I love her, even if we started off backwards. It killed me when she lost the baby, though, and that’s when I woke up. I realized that what we were building was worth something and I didn’t want to lose it.”

  I process everything he’s telling me, and as much as I don’t want it to, it does change the way I see him and Rebekah. The last thing I want to be is a friend to Bronx, but I think I’m outvoted by my conscience on this one.

  “You know Jules and I had broken up before I met Barry in the bar. I told her I was done with her, but she still came around. I was so stupid to think she was pining away for me. Every time we’d hook-up, she’d insinuate that we were together and I’d blow her off. Jules never took no for an answer.”

  “This could easily be a way to get revenge on you.”

  “I blew her off for Joey on the day of the finale,” I tell him. He knows how I feel about that day, the one that he ruined. That should’ve been our first night together without cameras following our every move. Instead, I was holed up in a hotel room trying to do everything I could to find her.

  I look at the mess on the table and wonder how I could be so fucking stupid to believe her. And I let her into our home, under the assumption that we were going to be parents, and this is how she repays me? By destroying Joey’s wedding dress?

  “I’m so fucked.”

  “Pretty much. Joey is devastated. I don’t think she cared too much about the dress, but the pictures and knowing that Jules was in her house when she wasn’t home—that killed her.”

  “Unless she broke in, she’s never been here unless Joey and I were home. I wouldn’t let her in if Joey weren’t here. I don’t know where these pictures are coming from.” I glance at them and decide to turn them over. I don’t want to see them. I don’t want the reminder that my wife walked out on me because of them.

  “Do you know where she is?” I ask again, hoping that he’ll tell me this time.

  He shakes his head. “I don’t. I arrived, consoled her, and she left. I decided to stay so you wouldn’t worry about her.”

  “Yet I am.”

  “I know, but at least you know why she’s not here.” He points to the mess on the table. “I gotta run, Rebekah’s waiting for me at home.” Bronx stands and takes a few steps toward the door.

  “I still don’t like you, but t
hank you.”

  “As long as you tolerate me for your wife, I don’t care. Joey means a lot to me and I don’t want to see her hurting.”

  “She means everything to me,” I mutter as the front door closes. I lean back and scream until my throat feels raw. Tears fall down the side of my face as I stare at the ceiling. What a fucking mess my life is when it should all be so easy. Joey and I should be figuring out what to eat, instead my house is empty and my wife isn’t home.

  Making my way to the bedroom, I head for her closet. Most of her hangers are empty.

  “She left me.”

  My hand flies through the empty hangers as I swing my arm out at the mass. Some fall to the floor, but others bounce back and snap into my skin leaving a welt. “Fuck,” I scream, pounding my fist into the wall.

  I reach for my phone and bring it to life. Both my screensaver and background picture are of her and I keep one screen clear of any icons so I can stare at this picture in particular. I took it the morning after we bought the house. She was just waking up and looked so beautiful. I had to capture the moment.

  Pressing the phone icon, I tap on her name. Her phone rings, but goes to voicemail. I know I should leave her a message, but I’m not sure what to say right now. Sorry doesn’t cut it.

  Traipsing back into the living room, I gather the pictures and article and set them aside. I’m going to have to ask Jules about all of this, but right now I want to get the mess cleaned up in case she comes home.

  When I scoop up what’s remaining of her dress the label catches my eye. I know I can at least fix this for her. I sit down and quickly Google the name on the label. As soon as they answer I tell them who I am and how I need a custom dress for my wife to wear when we renew our vows. The designer’s assistant is all too eager to make sure Joey has the dress of her dreams. Before we hang up I tell her what she’s looking for and when we need it by. I know Joey doesn’t want to do the reality shit with our lives, but I think letting Barry do our wedding is something we need. I want her to be treated like a princess and I can’t do that alone.

  My next call is to Barry, letting him know that I’m on board and that Joey will be. I need a week to convince her. When he asks when the wedding is, I tell him seven weeks. He mutters some curse words, but wants the exclusive so I know he’s game. I tell him Hawaii is where we want to get married at sunset. More words follow about lighting and staging, which I ignore. I know he’ll get it done.

  As soon as I hang up with him, I call Jules. The sound of her voice is like nails on the chalkboard.

  “It’s official,” I tell her.

  “What is?”

  “You’re the biggest bitch I have ever met and I regret ever being introduced to you.”

  “Joshieee,” she whines, dragging my name out.

  “No, Jules, you need to listen because I’m only saying this once. This shit you’re pulling stops now. I’m calling my lawyer and having you held for contempt or whatever the fuck it’s called. I want a paternity test done now. I’m also calling the police and having my house dusted for your fingerprints, especially on Joey’s dress. This shit is so fucking childish. You’re an adult, it’s time you grow up and act like one.”

  “Josh, I didn’t—”

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t do anything. You just admitted it. If you weren’t guilty you would’ve asked what happened, but you already know. I’m done, Jules. If the baby is mine, we’ll share custody, but until I know for certain I don’t want you anywhere near me.”

  I hang up before she has a chance to say anything. It’s not going to matter what she says, I don’t believe her. Not anymore.

  My final call is to Joey and this time I leave a message, telling her how sorry I am that I ever met Jules and that I promise to make it up to her. I assure her that I’m not cheating, nor have I cheated since the day I kissed her on stage under the lights with the audience watching. By the time I’ve hung up and called back three times, I’m running out of things to say aside from I’m sorry, I’ll fix everything and that I love her. My last words to her are, “We’re doing the production of our wedding if you don’t call me back.” If that doesn’t do the trick I don’t know what will.

  For three days I avoid him. The phone calls, the text messages, they all went unanswered. I even went as far to deactivate the GPS on my phone so he couldn’t find me. I thought about running, but made it as far as the ocean before I stopped. The beach was calling me and I thought I’d find peace here. For the three days that I ignored Josh, I sat on the beach with my toes in the sand, watching the waves crash into the sand and listening to the seagulls and families around me live life.

  When the sun would set and the bonfires would start I stayed in the shadows, remembering a time in my life when this was the norm. The young couples flirting and falling in love—that was me once, and when it went to shit I thought I’d never find it again. I want the laughter, the dancing around, and the kisses by the fire. I want my friends gathered around telling stories of our younger days while our partner holds us. It may seem too simple for some, but for me it’s how I always pictured things would be. I want simple and not hectic, and I suppose being married to Josh Wilson it has to be the latter because his life is crazy.

  When I met Josh I knew he was too good to be true, but I still hoped. I still thought I deserved some sort of happiness. I’ve listened to his messages, read them, too. Some were frantic while others calm. The threat of another television show is there and that means I have to make a decision. Do I stay married to Josh or do I end it? I honestly have no idea what will be better for me. I’m deeply in love with him and I know he loves me, but I’m not sure if it’s enough.

  I don’t want to be in a relationship where I’m second-guessing everything. Josh says he didn’t cheat and I want to believe him. Deep in my heart I know he’s telling the truth, but my brain can’t accept it. My mind keeps playing scenarios over and over in my head. What if I go home now and Jules is there? What if she’s in my house, my room and taking over my life because I can’t seem to find the resolve to get up and listen to my husband?

  Wiping my tears with the backs of my hands, careful not to get sand in my face, I finally stand and head back to my car. It was easy to find a hotel along the beachfront, but I hated being there without Josh. I wanted to experience the serene beauty of the ocean with him; walk on the sandy beaches and play in the waves. At night I longed for his touch and often lay there listening to the ocean when I should’ve been sleeping.

  The drive back to our house is done without the chatter of the radio. I need to think about the words that I want to say, to tell him how I feel and be confident in the decision that I’m making when I step in the door, because even as I pull into my driveway I don’t know what I’m going to say or do. I don’t know if I’m going to stay here any longer.

  No sooner do I shut my car door do I find Josh standing in the doorway, watching me. His eyes are bloodshot; he looks pale and I think he’s lost some weight. He doesn’t move when I reach the entryway, instead he stares at me, his eyes move over my body as if he’s inspecting me.

  Words are caught in my throat when he pulls me to his chest in a crushing hug. My response is automatic as my arms wrap around him, gripping his shirt in my fists. When he lets out a sob, I follow quickly. I don’t know how long we stand there crying in each other’s arms, but it’s a while and it’s worth it.

  He takes me by the hand, leading me into our house. The last time I was here, I was breaking down in front of Bronx while I showed him everything, each piece of evidence worse than the others, but nothing could even come close to what Jules had done to my wedding dress.

  When we get to the living room, the existing black sectional we had has been replaced with a white one with red accent pillows.

  “If you don’t like it, we can go pick something out together.”

  I nod, unable to form any words right now. He continues to take me to our bedroom. I stop suddenly and gasp. Our n
avy blue comforter has been changed to a dark purple, the same colors in our bathroom. Tears well in my eyes and when I look at Josh, he’s crying, too.

  “I don’t know how she got in, but I changed the locks as well. I also called the police and filed a report against her. Baby, you have to believe me, I didn’t cheat. Hell, I didn’t even pose for those pictures. I don’t know where she got them from or how she got into our house, but it’ll never happen again.”

  I wander around the room, wondering what else she has tainted. I have never met someone so evil before. Sure I’ve read stories about women like her, but to encounter one? There are no words to describe the agony she’s put me in.

  Sitting down on the side of the bed, Josh sits down beside me.

  “You changed the bedding?”

  “All of it. I threw everything away, too. I didn’t want any memories of her around this house.”

  “But there will be when the baby comes.”

  “Not if it’s not mine. Bronx and I had a long talk. I can see why you’re friends with him. And while I may never be, he opened my eyes to a lot of the stuff Jules has done in the past. I was stupid to trust her. She has to take the paternity test tomorrow.”

  “What happens if she doesn’t?”

  He shakes his head. “I guess they put her in jail. I don’t know.”

  I let out a strangled laugh, covering my mouth. “Jules in jail would be a funny sight.”

  “Yeah, well, we won’t be visiting her.”

  I shake my head, agreeing with him. Letting out a yawn, I move to lie down. I’m so tired, both mentally and physically. Josh sneaks in, spooning me from behind.

  “I’m so sorry, Joey. I feel like I’ve done nothing but apologize since we got together. I hope you know how hurt I am that she did this to us … to you. I told her I’m done, that her and I are no longer on speaking terms and I questioned whether I’m the father or not. Bronx really thinks I’m not.”