Cheaters Talk Too Loud

I shoved the steak away. I was done playing husband-in-the-dark.When I stood, Vanessa popped up too, hands flying, asking what was wrong.I shook my head. "It's late. I'm heading back."She moved to follow, but her friends blocked her, all fake concern."Glen's not in great shape. He needs rest. Why rush off?""Yeah, and Eugene's almost here. You haven't seen him all day. Don't you miss him?"Panic flickered across her face—quick, ugly. Then she noticed I didn't react. Her brows pulled tight."Don't say his name in front of Glen."Someone laughed."What are you scared of? He's deaf. He can't hear us."I pushed her back into her chair, firm. "I can get back myself. Stay."I turned and walked. No pause, no window for her to chase me.Barely made it far before Eugene Chapman showed up.His shoulder slammed into mine—on purpose or just pure arrogance—hard enough to throw me off balance.He didn't even look back. Just strutted into the room, grabbed her like she was his prize

I knew that move. Knew exactly what it meant when her desire kicked in.A few weeks ago, I wouldn't have lasted a second. I would've turned to her without thinking.Now?My stomach twisted.All I felt was nausea. Disgust.A week ago, my hearing came back. I walked in ready to tell her.Instead, I heard Vanessa's wild moans coming from the next room.My blood froze. For a second, I almost convinced myself I was imagining it.I wasn't.I shook as I reached the doorway. That's when it hit me—she already had someone else to lean on.That day, she brought Eugene home. Slept with him like it was some adrenaline sport they'd hyped each other into.She thought I was still deaf. Thought she'd wrapped it all up clean.She had no idea I heard everything.That same day, I signed up for a state-run volunteer teaching program in Northvale—middle-of-nowhere north—and booked a one-way ticket.Just like the promise we made back then, I was going to vanish from her world for good.The sou

My heart jumped—just for a second.I glanced at the document. Yep. The program confirmation.Her face stayed dark.I kept it easy. Casual."It's for Caleb. His family's super strict—won't let him go anywhere. So we used my info. He got in, and I was just dropping the papers off."She stared at me, clearly not buying it.I reached out and took the file from her hand anyway.Only then did she finally breathe out. "Guess what I brought back for you?"I paused. Let it hang."Your homemade chocolate cake."Her eyes flickered. Surprise, real this time."How did you know?"How could I not?Back when we were dating, she was always baking—cakes, pastries.She said she wanted to fatten me up so no one would steal me.The truth?Her cakes were always too bitter. Too heavy. Way too much.I still ate every bite. Never complained.Until the day she finally found out and broke down in my arms."It's so bitter," she cried. "Why do you keep eating it?"I'd stroked her hair, smiling

This wasn't a school.It felt like a daycare barely holding together.For a second, I thought about quitting too.Then the feeling passed—and I stayed.Under their nervous stares, I walked up to the board, grabbed a piece of chalk, and wrote my name."My name is Glen Gardner. Glen works. Mr. Gardner works too. Glen means 'valley'—a place where people can live."I turned back to them."Starting today, I'm your teacher. So—what's my name?"I looked at them, keeping it encouraging.Learning wasn't the hard part. Fear was. That deep, beaten-down look you get after being turned away too many times.No one spoke. I didn't push. I just stood there, smiling.Then a small, dirt-smudged kid raised his hand, voice barely above a whisper."Your name is Glen Gardner. Glen means 'valley.' A valley is a low place between hills, where people can live."I nodded. "That's right."That was all it took."Mr. Gardner's name is Glen.""Glen means valley.""A valley is a low place between hi

She leaned in, face soft. "You chased me for three years back then. So now I'll chase you for ten. I'll wait until you forgive me. My love for you is real. I'll love you forever."My stomach turned.Maybe someone else could forgive a woman who got pregnant with another man's kid. Maybe someone else could play house after that.That person was never going to be me."I've said this already. If either of us chose betrayal, we'd disappear from each other's lives. Permanently. We're done. And right now, I'm teaching. Leave."She stared like I'd said nothing.She grabbed my arm. "It won't happen again. I swear. Let's go home. This place is brutal. You're a city guy—how are you even surviving out here?"She tried dragging me to the door.I shook her off and laughed. "Home? Which one—the place where you cheated through a wall? The house that was never mine? You keep saying you love me. When you were screwing him, did I cross your mind? What about what we promised back then?"She froze