About a month after I started school, I flew back home to visit with my family. My aunt and uncle, who lived in Australia, were visiting for the weekend, and I wanted to see them while they were in town. I was supposed to stay for three days, but I decided to head back early because I had a paper I needed to do before I went back to school.

I tried to call Taylor to have him pick me up at the airport, but I couldn’t get a hold of him. I figured he was probably busy in the studio even though it was about eleven o’clock when I arrived at the airport. He spent all hours of the day there most of the time, so I just took a cab home.

When I got there, I saw Taylor’s car sitting in the driveway. I shrugged it off by telling myself that he had probably just gotten home.

I went into the house. It was still dark.

‘He’s probably in bed.’ I told myself as I walked to the door of the room where Taylor slept. I figured I had better let him know I was back.

I started to open the door, but I stopped when I heard giggling coming from inside. I froze in place for a moment. I didn’t know what to do. Sure, Taylor and I really didn’t love each other, but it still hurt to think he was cheating on me.

Finally, I just turned around and walked back into the kitchen. I thought for a moment. I didn’t know if I should let him go on with what he was doing or what. Then I thought about what kind of crap we would have to put up with if anyone found out, so I took a glass out of the cabinet and threw in on the floor. It made plenty of noise, and seconds later Taylor scrambled into the kitchen.

“Eden, I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow night,” he said nervously.

“I decided to come home early,” I said as I started to pick up the pieces of glass. “I hope I didn’t ruin your plans.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked innocently.

I pointed over his shoulder at the redhead standing behind him.

“Oh,” Taylor whispered looking at the girl behind him. He went over to her and whispered a few words before she disappeared back into Taylor’s room.

Minutes later she emerged from Taylor’s room with her things and headed out the front door without saying so much as a word.

“So, how long has this been going on?” I asked.

“Eden, this is the first time it ever happened,” Taylor replied.

“Well, I hope you know what you’re doing,” I stated. “If anyone finds out about your little affair, I’m sure you’ll have a lot of unwanted publicity.”

“Eden, shut up. It’s not a big deal,” Taylor shrugged.

“Maybe not to you, but it is to me,” I replied. “Since we’re married, you could at least try to be faithful.”

“Eden, come on. I’m a man. I have needs,” Taylor said.

“Oh, God. Great line,” I said rolling my eyes. “You act like we haven’t had sex at all. I know I’m not the girl of your wet dreams, but you’re stuck with me for now.”

“Okay, so if we’re going to be like that, then you’re going to start sleeping with me?” Taylor shot back.

“Taylor, I’m not sure, but I thought we had sex the night before I left,” I commented.

I’ll admit it was stupid of me to be sleeping with him even though I didn’t even love him, but he was technically my husband. Apparently, I wasn’t enough for him, though, because he had to go get some from somewhere else.

“Eden, come on,” Taylor groaned. “You don’t even like having sex with me.”

“What makes you say that?” I replied making a face.

“I practically have to beg you to sleep with me,” he said.

“So, that gives you the right to go out and pick up some girl while I’m away?” I asked. “I don’t think so.”

“Can we just go to bed?” Taylor asked yawning.

“No, I’m fucking pissed off at you,” I said. “You bring some whore into our house and sleep with her and act like it’s perfectly normal. Well, guess what –it’s not! I don’t know why I ever agreed to marry you. You said we needed each other. Blah, blah, blah. I would have been fine without you, but you just wanted me to marry you so you wouldn’t ruin your good guy image. God forbid anyone know what a prick you really are!”

“Shut up!” Taylor yelled as he slapped me across the face.

I immediately put my hand over my burning skin. I couldn’t believe he actually hit me. Tears began to sting my eyes.

Taylor’s face immediately went from one of anger to one of shock. “Eden, I’m so sorry,” Taylor said as he reached out to touch my cheek, but I pushed him away.

“Don’t you ever touch me again,” I said as calmly as I could before I turned and went to my room.

To some people it may not be a big deal that Taylor slapped me, but to me it was. A guy had never hit me before, and I was shocked Taylor actually slapped me. I hadn’t even seen it coming.

I didn’t even know what to say after it happened. Well, actually, I didn’t say anything because Taylor was getting the silent treatment from me. I was royally pissed. He couldn’t just slap me and pretend like it was okay. I was not that type of girl.

The next day I was fixing myself a sandwich for lunch before I had to go to one of my classes when Zac waltzed into the kitchen.

“Zac, what are you doing here?” I asked curiously. “Isn’t it customary to knock on the door before you come into someone’s house?”

“Oh, sorry,” Zac blushed. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“So, what are you doing here?” I asked.

“Um, Taylor asked me to pick up some tracks he was working on in the studio here,” Zac replied. “He gave me the key to get in,” he said, holding up a key. “Otherwise, I would have knocked.”

“It’s okay,” I shrugged. “So, where is Taylor? Why couldn’t he pick up the tracks himself?”

“Oh, he went out to lunch with Ike and some friends,” Zac replied.

“Why didn’t you go with them?” I asked curiously.

“Oh, I had some errands I needed to run,” Zac shrugged.

“Have you eaten yet?” I asked.

“Nah, I’ll probably just stop by Wendy’s or something,” Zac replied.

“I can fix you a sandwich,” I offered. “I was just fixing one for myself.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Zac shrugged.

“Oh, come on,” I said. “Have some lunch with your sister-in-law.”

“Okay, fine,” Zac smiled as he sat down at the table. “So, you like school?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool,” I replied as I fixed Zac a sandwich.

“Do many people know who you are?” Zac asked.

“Who I am?” I asked uncertainly.

“Taylor’s wife,” he said.

“A few people have recognized me,” I shrugged. “Not very many, though.”

I finished fixing Zac’s sandwich, sat it down in front of him before taking my plate and sitting down across from him.

“So, what happened to your cheek?” Zac asked curiously after a few moments of silence.

I automatically reached up and touched my still slightly sore cheek.

“Oh, it was actually funny,” I began. “I was going into the den, and you know how we have those double doors? Well, I was trying to push them open, and I was getting really frustrated. Then I realized I had to pull them, so I pulled, and managed to hit my cheek on the door,” I lied.

“Oh,” Zac said, looking at me doubtfully.

I couldn’t believe I actually lied about it. I made an excuse for what Taylor did. I felt pathetic.

After Zac was finished eating, he stood up and said, “I guess I better get those tracks and get back to the studio. Thanks for lunch.”

“Anytime,” I smiled. “Maybe next time you could bring Isaac with you,” I suggested. “I’ve barely gotten to know him. I’ll have to talk Taylor into inviting you guys over for dinner sometime.”

“Okay,” Zac smiled. “I’ll see you later.”

“Okay,” I nodded.

After Zac was gone, I sat down on the couch with a sigh. I was so mad at myself at that moment. I was such a liar and not a very good one at that. I hit my cheek on the door? How lame! I just hoped Zac didn’t mention anything about it to Taylor. Speaking of Taylor, I really hoped he would stay at the studio until I went to bed. He was one person I did not want to see.

Unfortunately for me, Taylor came home unusually early from the studio. I was in the living room reading a book for one of my classes when he walked into the house. He came into the living room and sat down on the chair across from me. He didn’t say anything, but I could feel his eyes on me. Finally, I looked up at him expectantly.

“Hi,” he said hoarsely.

I simply looked at him. I was still pissed, and I was determined to stand my ground.

“You’re still not talking to me, huh?” he said nodding his head. “I guess I deserve that.”

“You deserve to drop dead and spend the rest of eternity in the fiery pits of hell,” I commented.

“Well, thanks for the info,” Taylor smirked. “But at least you’re speaking to me now.”

“Only to tell you that and I’m not speaking to you anymore,” I replied before I turned my attention back to my book. I knew I sounded very childish, but I, honestly, could not have cared less.

“Listen, Eden,” Taylor said. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have slapped you. I don’t know why I did. You just really pissed me off.”

I was shocked. I pissed him off? Okay, this silent treatment was over. I had to reply to this.

“I pissed you off?” I asked. “I’m pretty sure you were the one who brought some cheap slut into our house.”

“I know,” Taylor nodded. “I shouldn’t have, but I was stupid and horny.”

“Taylor, I don’t think this is going to work,” I said.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I don’t think I can pretend to love you anymore,” I replied. “I want out.”

“Eden, you can’t,” Taylor said. “I’m sorry about last night. It won’t happen again.”

“I know it won’t,” I replied as I stood up. “Because I think I’m going to leave.”

“No, Eden,” Taylor said catching me by the arm as I walked past him. “You can’t. We don’t have that much longer.”

“What? Only five months?” I asked. “That’s too long for me.”

“Eden, I need you,” Taylor said as he stood up.

“Well, I don’t need you,” I replied.

“Yes, you do,” he said as he grasped my arm a little tighter. “You need me to take care of you. If you leave me, you won’t have anything—no money, no place to live, no friends. If you leave me, I’ll make sure you won’t ever see our baby again.”

“Are you threatening me?” I asked shakily.

I was actually frightened by Taylor’s tone. He sounded almost evil.

“No, I’m just telling it to you like it is,” he said.

“Let go of my arm,” I said.

“No,” he said as he tightened his grip.

“Ow! You’re hurting me,” I cried.

“I’m not letting you go until you say you’re staying,” he said.

“Fine, I’ll stay,” I cried. “Please just let me go,” I pleaded.

“Fine,” he sighed as he let go of my arm.

“You’re an asshole, you know that?” I commented as I rubbed my arm.

I could already tell there was going to be a bruise.

“Shut up,” Taylor said, rolling his eyes.

“Or what? You’ll hit me again?” I asked.

“Is that what you want?” Taylor smirked.

“I hate you,” I mumbled as I rubbed my arm gently. “And if you ever hurt me again, I will leave.”

“Oh, you will?” Taylor asked.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “And I’m not going to lie for you again.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I gave Zac some lame excuse about hitting my cheek on the door,” I replied. “If it happens again, I’m going to tell the truth.”

“It won’t happen again,” Taylor shrugged. “As long as you just go along with the plan and keep your mouth shut.”

I don’t know why I stayed. I should have left then, but I think I was actually scared of him. I was afraid he would actually take the baby, and I guess I was afraid he might actually really hurt me. He started showing a side of himself I didn’t even know existed, but I knew I didn’t like it.