Her Substitute Groom

Janice POV

“Fuck!” I cursed and finally sat up on the bed after tossing endlessly. It felt like I was going to lose my mind, or who knows, maybe I must’ve lost it already. Why the fuck was I acting like that if I wasn’t crazy for a moment? Thinking about all the shits I said to him back there, I could only conclude that maybe I was high on something. I couldn’t have said those words in my right frame of mind, right?

“I’m not that kind of a cheap and crazy girl. Janice is worth everything,” I reminded myself even though I acted like a maniac around him earlier.

‘I told you I won’t ever sleep with you’ I scoffed unbelievably as those words replayed in my head. No matter the angle I looked at it from, I wouldn’t stop seeing it as an insult. Does he think that I’m one ugly bitch he can’t afford to go to bed with?

“Ugh! Forget it. If he said that he can’t sleep with you, maybe you are too good for him. What am I saying? You are too fucking good for him, and not maybe,” I tried to give myself some hope, and it eventually worked.

“Why did I even wait up for him? I should’ve locked him outside. He wouldn’t have had the gut to speak to me in that manner,” I mumbled as I left the bed and dragged myself into the bathroom to have a brief bath and come to get some sleep. I didn’t know how I stayed up until 2am. Well, all thanks to that jerk.

The cold shower helped me clear my head a little, so I went to bed as soon as I got back into the room.

“Ugh! Why can’t I sleep?” I ran my fingers through my hair angrily after trying to sleep for ten minutes and still couldn’t get the act together. The image of him sleeping with another woman kept popping in my head, and at this point, I knew that I already lost it. Not that I’m in love with him or something, so why the fuck was I getting so worked up about it?

I barely closed my eyes and then boom! It was morning already, and guess what? I could only get five hours of sleep instead of nine or ten. All thanks to someone.

Even though I didn’t sleep well last night, I felt a bit refreshed, so I stood up from the bed and dragged myself sluggishly into the bathroom. As usual, I changed into my fitness dress and left my room for the indoor gym center in the house.

I heard some creaking sounds as I approached the gym, and I needed no one to tell me that Connor would be there by now.

“Annoying jerk!” I mumbled and pushed the door open only to find him on the treadmill running as fast as he could like someone was chasing him.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Overdoing things,” I huffed and went to warm up on the treadmill beside him. I fixed the headset on my head and played a cool music to keep me cool. I set the treadmill to move slowly, but not too slow anyway.

“You’re here? Good morning,” I heard his voice beside me, but I glanced at him and scoffed. Of course, I wanted him to know that I heard him but just ignored him.

“Did you sleep well?” He asked me, and I was forced to stop the treadmill from moving, turning to face him. He was already standing on the bare floor, his body dripping wet. It turned out that it must’ve been long since he came in here.

“No, I didn’t, all thanks to you,” I wanted to snap at him, but I rolled my eyes and ignored him.

“I’m asking you a question, Janice. Are you going to ignore me?” I heard him scoff as I walked over to the cycling and sat on it, but I still didn’t say anything, so I guess he got frustrated because he walked over to me and held my hand.

“Are you seriously on about the silent treatment again?” He whined frustratingly, and I scoffed.

“Let me go,” I finally spat and yanked his hand off.

“Come on, Janice. You can’t be like this, ok? We are living here alone… I mean, you are kind of the closest person to me here, so you can’t be like this,” He pouted his lips, and I scoffed.

“You disgust me,” I said to his face, and he raised his eyebrows and smirked.

“I’ve heard that so many times, so it’s nothing. So, are you going to speak to me now?” He winked at me, and I huffed.

“Stop talking to me! I don’t want to see you!” I yelled at the top of my voice, but he rolled his eyes and sighed.

“Fine! I’m sorry about what happened yesterday. I would’ve come home earlier if I knew you were going to wait up for me. Are we cool now?” He leaned forward and cupped my cheek in his palm, his charming eyes piercing into mine.

“Don’t be mad at me, okay?” His voice came out almost in a hush, and as his eyes went down to my lips, I bit my lip to suppress the urge to make a funny sound. Is he messing with me now?

“Janice… Don’t be mad at me, ok? I’m going to make it up to you… I promise,” He finally straightened his back and removed his hand from my cheek, but his eyes won’t leave mine. I tried to speak, but my tongue felt tied and my heart beat rapidly against my chest. I swallowed the lump in my throat nervously. My heart was beating so loud and hard as if it was trying to force its way out of me, and as my eyes darted to his lips, I couldn’t help but imagine how great it would feel to have a taste of those lips.

“Pull yourself together, Janice. He is a jerk,” I reminded myself and was finally able to turn my face away.

“I’m sorry for any inconvenience I’ve caused you with my recklessness. I’m going to make it up to you, but not with sex though. Like I said, I won’t ever sleep with you…” He stated with a serious expression on, and I bit my lip. I felt a sting in my heart, strangely sad about his decision not to sleep with me. Other people would be happy, right? But why was I so sad about this?

“I’m going to call my lawyer to prepare the divorce papers. We will push through with the divorce as soon as we get back to LA,” He further said and finally walked away like it was nothing…