Those hurtful Words Novel – I accidentally overheard my fiancé complaining to his colleagues that I am too naggy, too perky, too mommish. Three years together, and I believed every note I packed in his lunch, every home-cooked meal, every “I love you” text was appreciated. Then I heard the voicemail. He was complaining about me to his colleagues. “Honor is great, but she’s so perky and in your face. And the notes are a little mommish, you know. ” I gasped, hard. “She knows I’m busy, so why does she have to ask me all the time if my day is going well, how her da..mn dress looks. “And yeah, the cooking is great, but sometimes I want to go out for lunch. I’ve thrown away her food twice this month.” I sat there in utter disbelief at what I just heard. My heart hurt so much. Tears sprang to my eyes as I replayed everything I heard in my head.
He called me too much, too perky, too mommish. He threw away my cooking like it meant nothing. I’ve given him three years. I thought we were on the road to becoming engaged. I wiped my tears, started the engine, and drove away from the life I thought we were building. Honor Greg’s alarm woke me, so I got up and started the coffee while he was in the shower. I made him a breakfast sandwich, packed it in a container, and then put his fried chicken and potato salad in another. I packed his lunch bag, wrote a note telling him he’d got this, that today would be the day everything went right, and by the time he came down, I had his coffee in his insulated cup. “Thank you, baby. You’re the best,” he said. “You’re welcome. I have to work tonight, so I won’t be home when you get home. You’re on your own for dinner.” “Alright, it’ll probably be a late night anyway, we have court tomorrow.” “Love you, baby,” I said, k1ssing him. He groaned and pulled back. “I’m sorry I fell asleep on you last night.” “It’s fine.
I understand. Things will get better once this case is over,” I said. “I swear, best girlfriend ever.” He k1ssed me one more time, grabbed his things, and was out the door a few seconds later. I sighed and got ready for my day. Tonight, the women wanted to paint a martini glass with an olive in it. I got the final headcount, so I drew the martini glasses on 32 16×20 canvases. CeeCee had called to cancel our lunch date because she got called into work. She was a nurse at an assisted living facility, and she was always the first person they called when someone called in because the elderly loved her. I texted Greg some inspirational quotes, hoping his day was going better than yesterday. An hour later, I packed up my car with my supplies and the canvases. I had on a black-and-white jumper with a blue tank underneath. Clothes, I wasn’t worried about getting paint on. I went back into the house, grabbed Josh’s dinner, and then locked up. I jumped in my Jeep Rubicon and blasted Adele on my way to Josh’s tattoo shop.
I pushed through the door of his shop and said hi to Rachel, who worked at the front desk, answering phones, taking payment, and making appointments. She smiled at me as I made my way into the back of the shop. The buzz of a tattoo gun always, for some reason, made me a little dizzy. But I was very curious and thought one day I might get one. Greg doesn’t really like tattoos on women, but hey, my body, my choice. I stopped behind a curtain. “Josh, it’s Honor, I have your food.” “Come on back, honey,” he rumbled in his deep voice. I peeked around the curtain, and there was a beautiful lady, lying on her side, her full thigh exposed. Her red hair splayed over the arm on which she rested her head.
She smiled at me. “Hi Stella,” I said. I met her at my gym. She was a personal trainer. I always ask her for tips, and she helps me out. “Hey, Honor. What did you bring?” “I made some fried chicken and potato salad. Told Josh, I’d bring him some.” “That’s so sweet of you. You painting tonight?” she asked, eyeing my clothes. I laughed because the outfit was not flattering. “How could you tell?” I teased, dancing in a circle. She laughed. I looked at her leg. She was getting a white woman’s face with flowing red hair and some interesting markings.