Elusive Love Read Online Free Page B

words would sound twice as harsh coming from me. “He likes order in everything but especially with me. For example, I gained weight while I was pregnant with Amelia. He decided I needed to lose it, so he tossed out all the junk food in our house and put me on a diet.”
    Ethan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re joking.”
    “I’m not, but I wish I were. It’s not only me that he likes to control. Our house has to be spotless at all times, or there will be hell to pay.”
    “Yeah, he really is a dick,” Ethan muttered. “And regarding the weight issue, you look fine to me. I definitely wouldn’t consider you fat. At least now I understand where some of your self-esteem issues come from.”
    “Huh?” I asked.
    “You seem to think so little of yourself. You might have felt that way before him, but I’m sure he has made it ten times worse by telling you that you need to lose weight. Come on, Caley. You just had a kid. Sure, some women bounce right back, but most end up with a little weight leftover. My sister was a twig before she got pregnant. It took her a year or two to get back to where she was. It’s not a big deal.”
    “Tell him that,” I said bitterly.
    “Oh, I would if you’d let me. I’ve never met him, but from what little you’ve told me, he sounds like a jackass. It’s no wonder you’re so unhappy.”
    Fear zipped through my body as I venomously shook my head. “ No. You can never tell him anything if you two were to ever meet. Please, Ethan, promise me that whatever I tell you will stay between us.”
    “Calm down. I won’t say anything to him—ever. I wouldn’t do that to you, not when you’ve put your trust in me like this.”
    I relaxed a bit at his words. “Thank you. If he ever found out I had talked to you about all of this…I have no idea what he would do, but I do know it wouldn’t be good.”
    He shook his head. “I don’t understand why you take this abuse, Caley. You’re so much better than this.”
    “I made a vow to stay with him, for better or for worse. I have a child with him, a child who did not ask to be brought into this kind of life, and she will not suffer for my mistakes.”
    “Did you ever think that staying with him might cause more harm than good?” Ethan asked.
    “Of course it won’t. She’ll be raised in a home with both of her parents. She’ll know she’s loved.”
    “She’ll grow up in a home surrounded by fighting and tension. If things are as bad as you say, there’s no way that she won’t notice it when she’s older. Both of you can love her from separate homes. It might even be better for her that way.”
    I shook my head. “When she’s older, I’ll make sure the fighting stops.”
    “How can you possibly make that happen?”
    “I don’t know, but I’ll figure out a way. Maybe if I start agreeing to everything he says or wants, then things will go smoother.”
    He frowned. “That’s weak, Caley, and you know it.”
    “I’ll make it happen somehow. I just need time to figure it out.”
    Speaking of time, I glanced down at my phone and let out a little shriek.
    “What?” Ethan demanded.
    “Shit. I was supposed to be home ten minutes ago!” I shouted as I started the car.
    I turned it around, and I was speeding back down the narrow blacktop before Ethan could respond.
    “Jesus Christ, woman, slow down!” He gripped the dashboard.
    “I can’t! I still have to drop you off and then get home. He’s going to be furious. He told me no more than an hour.”
    I was shaking with fear and nerves. I knew without a doubt that Joey would be livid by the time I arrived home. I could already envision the fight that was sure to occur.
    As if on cue, my phone beeped with a voice mail. I’d had no service where we were parked, so it was hard to tell when Joey had left the message. I knew it had to be him. No one else called me anymore besides my parents, and they never left messages.
    I picked up my phone and unlocked the screen.