Devotion Read online

  "Thank you," I reply with gravel in my throat. But before I can hang up, I feel my stomach punch itself again. I rush to the kitchen sink and throw up.

  Today will be awful.

  46

  Katherine

  I tell the taxi driver to drop me off outside of BBES so I can sneak into the school. It's a good thing my car isn't working. I doubt I could have driven it without crashing into a tree.

  I thank the man and give him a generous tip for driving extra slow as requested, not wanting to hurl in the back seat of his car. He nods and drives off in a hurry to his next pickup. I don't know how these guys can compete with all the rideshare companies out there dominating the industry.

  Clearing the distracting thoughts from my head, I focus on the daunting walk I have to the faculty lounge. I'd go nonstop to my classroom, but I need to see Annette and make sure she's okay. I forgot to at home before when I had a phone in my hands. My brain feels too fried to think.

  The path into school is trickier than it should be. I can't seem to walk in a straight line. We must have been mixing our drinks last night for me to feel this bad. In fact, I haven't gotten this knockout drunk since I was with Peter in my early twenties.

  When I step inside the school's office out from the cold, I bump into a student's dad. Gary Cross stares back at me with the permanent frown he always seems to have on his face.

  "Miss Armstrong," he says.

  "It's Mrs. Grayson now." I've told him this twice.

  "Oh right. You're married. Congratulations," he says in a huff.

  "Thank you. What can I do for you?" I already know a complaint is coming.

  "It's about Tom's report card from last semester."

  "Last semester? What about it?"

  "I went over each of his academic performance scores and I feel you gave him a lot of threes where he clearly had earned a four."

  It takes everything I have not to roll my eyes. Gary is one of those parents who rarely get involved in their kid's lives. But the second he does, he reaches out too far and analyzes every report or note sent home regarding his son.

  "Mr. Cross, if you'd like to discuss this further, we can arrange a meeting after school."

  "No, I want to talk about it now."

  "I'm sorry but I don't have the time."

  He stares at me with his beady eyes and rubs his balding head. "Fine. I'll return after school this afternoon."

  "I have a meeting scheduled then. It will have to be tomorrow." The lie flows out of my mouth without thought. There's no way in hell I could stand to discuss this moron's son for any length of time today. It won't help anyone.

  He sighs heavily. "So be it," he says as his nostrils flare at me. He storms off out the office before I can say another word. I shake my head and continue.

  Annette isn't at her post, sending a blow to my already churning stomach, so I move to the faculty lounge, hoping she's grabbing herself a coffee.

  A minute later, I find her doing exactly that while chatting to some teachers. I let out a long breath and move over to her.

  "Kat! How are you?" Annette calls out to me louder than I can handle. She seems to be too bubbly for my liking. How is she not bent over the sink, begging for death to grab her with two bony hands?

  "Did you get home okay?" I ask.

  "Yeah, no sweat. Why?"

  "Oh, no reason."

  "Are you okay, Kat? You look like you've got the flu."

  My forehead is sweating as if I've run a marathon despite the room not being overly warm.

  "Kat?"

  "Um, sorry. I'm not feeling the best, you know?"

  Annette pulls me away from the other teachers. "Because of last night? You barely had two drinks."

  "Are you serious?" I ask as I try to recall exactly what went on during our visit to the bar. "I figured you and I must have drunk until they kicked us out, given the way I feel."

  Annette stares at me with concern lining her forehead. "Honey, we were only out for a few hours. I dropped you off at ten thirty."

  "How is that possible? Corey left me a note saying I didn't get in until late."

  Annette snaps her neck back a touch and screws up her nose. "No, that can't be right. I drove you home after a short while because we both figured we'd be too tired if we stayed any longer. Don't you remember?"

  I don't. Not at all. Did Corey leave me the note to mess with me? Better yet, why do I feel like I've had so much to drink when I barely had two glasses of wine? What did he do?

  "What is it? Are you remembering something?"

  I try to push any dark thoughts out of my head. It couldn't be possible. "It's nothing. I guess I mustn't be feeling well and shouldn't have had those drinks. Obviously, I can't handle them anymore."

  "Kat. You can't be serious? We have more to drink when we go out for dinner. This is crazy. You shouldn't look like someone has run you over with a truck after only two glasses of wine."

  "I know. I know. It's weird. I just need to push through the day and not throw up again."

  "You've been vomiting?"

  I nod, giving her a forced smile to try to make light of the subject. It doesn't get Annette off my case any less than she already is.

  "Maybe you should have a nice strong cup of coffee. Here take mine." Annette grabs her mug from the kitchen bench and holds it under my nose. The smell is overpowering, so I step back and move for the exit to find some fresh air. My stomach twists.

  Barry walks in and almost collides with me. "Mrs. Grayson. Please watch where you're—"

  He doesn't finish his sentence. Instead, he flinches as I throw up onto his jacket. "What the hell?" Barry yells out.

  "I'm so sorry, Barry," I mumble through the disgusting taste in my mouth. "I'm not feeling—"

  More vomit comes up, pulling me to the floor.

  "My god. This is the last thing I need today," Barry says.

  Annette rushes over and helps me up. "I'll take her to the restroom."

  "Please. Then I think it's time you head home, Mrs. Grayson," Barry says, bending down to grab my attention.

  "Yes, Barry. Thank you. I'm so sorry." I glance around the room to see everyone gawking at me with their mouths open.

  "Don't thank me yet. I'll be sending the bill for the steam clean this carpet will need. Not to mention the dry cleaning for my jacket."

  "Okay," I reply. What else can I say?

  "Let's go," Annette says, pulling me along. She hands me a few tissues from her pocket. I wipe away the mess and walk with her to the restrooms. "I'll take you home, okay?"

  "Thank you," I reply without another word. I feel like death.

  "Just trying to help. Something is messing with your system. Maybe you ate spoiled food before we went out."

  It's a reasonable theory to have, but it doesn't explain enough for this to be food poisoning. Someone steps on my grave as I shudder. A terrifying thought has entered my mind, and I can't shake it.

  What if Corey slipped me something in my sleep?

  47

  Annette

  After dropping off Katherine, I can't wipe the joy from my face. Did she really throw up all over the principal in front of the staff? My god, I couldn't have planned things to go this way if I tried.

  The GHB I slipped into Katherine's wine last night was still working hard, so I had to help her into her house to her bed.

  Spiking her drink was a delicate process to pull off. A full dose would have made her look like a zombie in any of the selfies I'd later encourage her and the sleazy guy to take. I had to put in a small amount of the liquid at a time to give her an overwhelming feeling of euphoria. Then, once she'd taken enough photos, I hit her with the rest of the vial to help wipe her memory.

  "I don't know what's wrong with me?" Katherine said over and over when I placed her in her bed. "I never react this way to a few drinks."

  "Maybe you've come down with something like a virus?"

  "Yeah, maybe. I wish I knew where my cell was."r />
  I could hear the doubt circling around in her head when Katherine answered me. But it didn't matter. By the time she wakes up later on today from her hangover, I will have cemented the idea within enough people's brains that Katherine spent the evening drinking.

  "Anne," Katherine said.

  I gritted my teeth, hearing the short form of my name. "Yes?"

  "You mentioned dropping me off at ten thirty, but Corey's note told me I didn't get in until late."

  "That's weird," I said.

  "Corey may have been confused. He was probably asleep and thought it was later than that. He goes to bed early during the week."

  "Sounds reasonable to me."

  "I guess it doesn't matter, does it? Anyway, thank you for helping me," Katherine said with half-shut eyes.

  "Just trying to be a good friend," I replied.

  "You're an amazing friend. I don't know what I'd do without you." Katherine started to blink.

  "I'm okay."

  "No, you're more than okay. You're—"

  Katherine coughed three or four times. So much so she had to sit up.

  "Are you all right?" I asked with an arm on her shoulder.

  She shook her head. "No. My head is killing me. Any chance you could fetch me an aspirin from the en suite and a glass of water?"

  "Not a problem," I replied, screaming obscenities on the inside. I had better things to do than to play nurse for Katherine. God knows I'd done it countless times before she left for college. Katherine would drink herself stupid while I stayed relatively sober to make sure her parents never found out what we were up to.

  I walked into the en suite. Instantly I could smell Corey in the small space. I spotted one of his work shirts hanging on a clothes hook. It fell into my hands within a few seconds as I wrapped it around my face, breathing in his scent. His powerful aftershave grabbed my full attention, so much so that it pulled me to that amazing night we kissed. I allowed the memory to flood my mind.

  "Did you find it?" Katherine asked, ruining the flawless image in my head.

  "Still looking. Don't get up." Reality couldn't allow me a few seconds to fall back into the most perfect moment of my life. Instead, it wanted me to play doctor for a moron who had no idea about what I did to her last night.

  It was a beautiful few hours. Not only did I slip Katherine the GHB, but I also collected some interesting photos that I don't think Corey will enjoy seeing. I can't wait to see his reaction when he realizes what his wife got up to on a weeknight.

  I took another breath in of Corey's shirt, closing my eyes as if I were breathing in a drug. Soon I won't have to sneak around his house to smell that powerful essence he leaves wherever he goes. It will cover my home. Our home.

  "Here you go," I said to Katherine when I handed her the aspirin and some water.

  "Thank you so much for this and for getting me home. I can't imagine what I'd do without you."

  I smiled at Katherine as she took slow blinks, tucking her in a moment later. "Get some rest. You're going to need it."

  Katherine's eyes fell shut before she heard my ominous warning. Within a minute, she was lightly snoring while I held a spare pillow in my hand. It tempted me to end her life there and then. But a hazy smothering wasn't enough of a punishment.

  I drove away from the Grayson household with one clear image in my head. Soon, Corey will feel disgusted that he ever married Katherine. I'll show him exactly the person she is. He'll understand the terrible error he made. Divorce will be his only option. Then I'll be there to pick up the pieces.

  48

  Annette

  I traveled back to school and resumed working for a few hours. Every so often, I'd hear the whispers of passing teachers talking about Katherine's career-destroying moment in the faculty lounge. She'll never live it down.

  After lunch, I walk over to Corey's room, knowing he has some student-free time. While his students are busy running around in the gym with the PE teacher, I will make my next move. I know word has reached him by now regarding Katherine's actions. He's sent her multiple texts asking her what made her vomit all over Barry this morning. Each message reads angrier than the last. I know this because I have his wife's cell.

  I have the perfect cover story to return Katherine's phone. Corey has no idea the device is even missing. All he'll be thinking about instead is how badly his spouse's actions have reflected on him. Especially with this promotion.

  I knock on Corey's door and find him at the front of the room, standing by the whiteboard with a marker in hand. He turns to me and ushers me inside. The look on his face says it all. I can see anguish and uncertainty lining his forehead.

  "Everything okay?" I ask once I enter.

  "Not really," Corey replies. He returns the cap to the whiteboard marker and shoves it on the built-in ledge. His shoulders slump. I hate seeing him like this, but I know it's necessary.

  "I can come back if this isn't a good time."

  "No, it's fine," he says, facing me. "How can I help you?"

  "I found this," I say holding up the stolen cell. It was so easy to take from Katherine last night once the drug had kicked in. "I think it might be Kat's."

  "Oh, okay. I didn't know she'd lost it."

  "I didn't either until today. I only noticed it on my way back from taking her home this morning."

  "Where was it?"

  "Sitting on the ground near your driveway. I'd say Kat dropped it last night. I would have given it to her, but I didn't want to wake her up. She's probably still asleep."

  Corey's brow tightens as he shakes his head. "That explains why she hasn't responded to my texts."

  "That's the other issue. I'm not one hundred percent sure this is hers. I mean, it looks like it from the case, but the lock screen is blank. Usually there's a photo of you and Kat on there, but all I can see is a black background. I'd unlock the thing to find out more, but I don't know her passcode."

  "I'll take a look," Corey says as we step toward each other. I hand him the phone and give him my best face filled with concern, throwing in a hint of confusion for good measure.

  Corey punches the passcode 26739 in as I had only a few minutes prior. I wonder if he knows that it spells out his name.

  I move in close and stand over his shoulder to see the screen unlock to the photo app I made sure was open a moment ago. Sitting there are a series of selfies from last night. I encouraged some drunken asshole to take them with an intoxicated Katherine. The two have their arms wrapped around each other with drinks in hand.

  "What the hell?" Corey lets out. His fingers jab at the screen and swipes through the photos, seeing Katherine and this sleazy moron kissing one another on the cheek. Smiles and laughter cover their faces.

  "Did you know about this?" Corey spits out, snapping his neck toward me.

  "Not at all. I don't understand. This guy was sniffing around while we were there, but I kept telling him to leave us alone."

  "Were you in the bathroom for a long time or something?" Corey asks, desperate for an explanation.

  "No. I didn't go once. This makes no sense, unless…" I trail off as if lost in thought.

  "Unless what?"

  I lock eyes with Corey and shake my head. "It can't be right."

  "What can't be right? Tell me."

  I take a breath in and let it out slowly. "Look at the time they took the photo."

  Corey taps a few commands into Kat's cell. "It says two in the morning."

  "Oh, no. I dropped her off at your place at ten thirty. She kept threatening me that she wanted to stay out longer, that she would return to the bar once I'd gotten her home. I thought she was joking. She must have ordered an Uber to go back there."

  "Are you serious?"

  I don't have to be. That's exactly what we did. I used Kat's cell to get us an Uber from her house to the bar after we'd already come home in my car. Later, once enough incriminating photos existed, I got us another Uber to Katherine's home, again using her cell. I shoved
Katherine through the front door with her keys and directed her down toward the main bedroom before sneaking away with her stolen cell. From there it was a matter of walking down the street and around the corner to retrieve my car.

  It was a lot of messing about in one night, but Katherine's rideshare history on her cell paints an undeniable picture, and Corey is now checking it.

  "What in the…?" His voice trails off as he sees where Katherine has been. "She went back there after you dropped her off."

  "Oh my god. Are you serious?"

  "Look," he says, showing me Katherine's Uber account. "She even gave the driver a huge tip."

  I particularly enjoyed that little extra. "That's just… I don't know what to say, Corey. I'm shocked."

  Corey's mouth hangs open as he shakes his head. But his surprise is transitioning into anger. The veins on his temple pulsate as he exhales louder than is needed to breathe. "Who is this son of a—?"

  "I'm so sorry, Corey," I blurt, not wanting him to think this was the doing of another man. I redirect his rage. "I should have taken her seriously when she said this. I figured it was a joke."

  "Don't be sorry. This isn't your fault. Katherine must have a problem she's not dealing with. I'd hoped things might get better for us, but I guess not. Instead, she's out there doing this sort of thing on a work night."

  I lay my hand on Corey's elbow and brush his arm up and down. "I'm so sorry I invited her out. I thought some time apart would help you both but look what I've done. I'm so stupid." My arm pulls away. I turn on the waterworks like a tap, covering my face with both hands.

  "Hey, hey. It's okay, Annette. Like I said, this isn't your fault. You were trying to be a good friend to us both." His arm wraps around my shoulders and squeezes me tight for a moment. I shudder to his touch and do my best to maintain the supposed sadness I'm attempting to display.

  "You're not mad at me?"

  "No. Not in the slightest. You're not the one out there betraying my trust, especially after everything that's been happening lately. God, why would Kat act this way? Is it for attention? Is it to punish me?"