The Side Effects of You Read Free Page B

sober up a little before heading out. Sam didn’t live far from the restaurant, and I learned that Andrea lived about ten miles away from our area.
    â€œIt was so nice to meet you, Andrea, and I have your card. I’ll be calling you tomorrow for sure for an appointment,” I said, standing.
    â€œYes, ma’am, and you ladies take it easy. I have your numbers, and as soon as I make it home, I will text you both,” Andrea said as she and Samantha both stood.
    We departed, and when I got back to the hotel, I went straight to my bed. As soon as I shut my eyes, my phone alerted me that I had a text. I knew Andrea couldn’t have gotten home that fast. I grabbed my phone. It was Ana.

    Mama, pls come get me. He doesn’t want me 2 stay.

    Damn! I was too tired to move, but I had to go and get my grown baby.

Chapter Four
    Andrea
    When I walked in the house, I didn’t expect Jeremiah to be up waiting. He normally couldn’t care less where I was or who I was with.
    â€œWhere in the hell were you, Ann?”
    â€œOut.”
    â€œOut where? You are a pastor’s wife. You have no business walking in at this hour,” he bellowed.
    â€œAre you serious right now, Jeremiah? You make prayer calls at all times of the night, and now I can’t walk in after midnight? Man, please. Good night!” I headed toward the stairs. He was two steps behind me.
    â€œHave you been drinking?”
    â€œYes, I have,” I replied.
    â€œYou know you should not be indulging in God knows what and then getting behind the wheel.”
    â€œAgain, the Bible doesn’t say that. I’m not supposed to become a drunk. I had a couple of drinks. I’m not intoxicated. No way would I get behind the wheel drunk, Jeremiah, so go to your room so I can shower and go to sleep, sir.” I spoke as nicely as I could. I didn’t know why he had decided to act as if he cared anything about me. It was comical.
    â€œGood night, harlot,” he said.
    I just laughed. I laughed out loud in his face. I was over him and his psycho biblical philosophies. God had given me the gift of understanding too, and I wasn’t going to allow him to control me anymore. If he loved me like the Bible said to love a wife, he’d show me and not withhold love and affection from me. He constantly warned if I committed adultery, I’d burn in hell, yet he was pushing me to it. The Word of God told us not to deprive our spouse and not to tempt our mate to do ungodly things, but I was tempted. I was in need of love and intimacy, and if I couldn’t get it from my husband, I’d have to find it somewhere.
    The next morning I dragged myself out of bed to cook breakfast for my kids. I had never stayed out after midnight before, and I knew I should not do that again if I had an early morning the next day. When I got downstairs to the kitchen, all eyes were on me, as if I was on trial.
    â€œWhat’s with the stare down?” I asked.
    â€œYou overslept, and I had to make the kids breakfast this morning,” Jeremiah’s baritone voice thundered.
    My eyes popped. “Overslept? What do you mean? What time is it?” I hadn’t checked the clock. I’d had no idea I was forty-five minutes behind.
    â€œTime for us to get the bus, Mama, and we had to eat oatmeal. Yuck!” J.J. frowned.
    â€œYeah, Mom. We told Dad that you added fruit to our oatmeal, but he made us eat it without it,” Lena said before grabbing her backpack. The kids headed for the door.
    â€œFoot,” I said. I’d wanted to use the word fuck so many times, but that was unbecoming. “I’m sorry, guys. I’ll make it up to you with blueberry pancakes tomorrow morning,” I offered. “Promise,” I said as they hurried out the door.
    Jeremiah looked at me and shook his head.
    â€œWhat, Jeremiah?”
    â€œWhy didn’t you check with me before going out last night?”
    â€œWell,