WOMAN, HAVE YOU GOT CHEATING ON YOUR MIND?
AUTHOR’S NOTE
I thought I’d give the 750 word challenge a go. For me it truly is a challenge as I like nothing better than exploring emotions and having to limit myself to 750 words to convey something as complex as love and betrayal required self-discipline! Consequently, this is just a bit of lighthearted fun and the cliches abound!
Happy Reading and I hope you enjoy my attempt.
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ANNABELLE UNCONSCIOUSLY SAT a little straighter in her chair. The moment her husband Phillip squeezed her hand, rose from his seat, and headed toward the stage she knew what was going to happen.
It was karaoke night and he was going to sing her a song. He often did. Experience told her every eye would be on her. She was going to be the envy of every woman in the pub. She loved it. Loved the attention. Loved the envy.
She wondered what he’d serenade her with tonight. Maybe, John Legend’s All Of Me. She did so love that song. Or perhaps it would be a Richard Marx number. Phillip did a beautiful version of Now And Forever. Yes, her man could sing.
He’d sung the night they met, sung his marriage proposal, sung at their wedding and every anniversary since and regularly on nights out. She knew it was one of the ways he expressed his love. It made her feel special.
Phillip took the mic and paused, giving Annabelle a deep and meaningful stare. Annabelle shivered in anticipated pleasure.
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind?
Annabelle frowned. She didn’t recognise the opening bars of the number. This wasn’t at all the usual style of song Phillip chose to sing to her.
Something’s wrong between us
That your laughter cannot hide
And you’re afraid to let your eyes meet mine
And lately when I love you, I know you’re not satisfied
Annabelle felt the heat rise up her throat and suffuse her cheeks. Suddenly it was hard to breathe. Of its own volition her head shook from side to side in denial. He couldn’t know. He just couldn’t. She’d been so careful.
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind
Annabelle looked around the room and groaned. Sure enough everyone was looking at her. What they must think!
I’ve seen the way men look at you
When they think I don’t see
And it hurts to have them think that you’re that kind
But it’s knowing that you’re looking back
That’s really killing me
Annabelle stared at her husband, silently begging him to stop but on he sang, determined and resolute. How could he do this to her? How could he humiliate her like this? It had meant nothing. Nothing serious.
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind?
Annabelle risked a glance toward Rick, her best friend’s Melissa’s husband. His face was rigid. He looked ill. Melissa looked at her, confused. She, too, was used to Phillip’s romantic gestures. Annabelle saw the unspoken question in her friend’s eyes. Why, she was asking, why was Phillip singing such an inappropriate song?
A woman wears a certain look
When she is on the move
And a man can always tell what’s on her mind
I hate to have to say it
But that look’s all over you
Annabelle felt naked. Exposed. Suddenly the bodice of her dress felt too low cut. Her hemline too short. Her heels too high and everything, everything was too tight. A moment ago, she’d felt sexy. Now she merely felt slutty.
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind?
Over and over the words repeated in her mind in time with the music. How could Phillip know? How could he know? She and Rick had been so careful. It had just been a bit of fun. Something that made her feel sexy.
Oh woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind?
Annabelle longed for the song to end. She wanted to leap out of her seat and run. She wanted to escape the stares, the condemnations she saw in their looks. She wanted to hide from the pain and anger she saw in Phillip’s eyes, but she couldn’t move. She felt like a caged animal, skewered to the seat by invisible chains. Chains made by words. Words sung so beautifully they hurt.
She looked at her husband as he repeated the words of the chorus. She searched his features for clues. Would he understand? Would he forgive her? Was there any hope for them? For their relationship?
“Please,” she silently pleaded.
There was no obvious answer for her in his steely gaze.
Instead of replacing the mic as the music faded, Phillip kept it poised by his lips.
Annabelle understood. Her future hinged on the next song. She held her breath and braced herself.
TO BE CONTINUED…. MAYBE
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Yes, another note!
My apologies for the story not being complete in itself. Hopefully, you enjoyed it as a beginning. If any author fancies taking the story on the next part of its journey you have my blessing. All I ask is that you let me know so I can be sure to read it!
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A JOKE TO SEE YOU ON TO THE NEXT STORY!
I will never forget how happy I was when I saw my missus walking down the aisle toward me.
My heart was beating fast and the excitement was unbearable. It seemed to take an age but eventually there she was, standing beside me.
I gave her a loving smile and said, “Grab that trolley, will you, love. They’re doing three cartons of beer for the price of two.”
I forgot to add in my earlier diatribe, another audio version of one of your stories would be nice pick one I am not fussy.
Dean
We’re working on it, Dean. As well as another SemperAmare story!!!
FireFox59 and 26thNC you are spot on with your comments, it saddens me but I am thankful, greatful, ect, to have them here to enjoy, Take it as you are not invited because some of they other authors might not like to be out done by “Dave” How can you not like Dave he’s my Idol. GO Dave.
Dean
I’ll have to very much agree with 26thNC on the down fall of Literotica Loving Wives. I posted a comment or I should say I tried to post a comment on the thread about the upcoming elitist invitational being promoted by Randi. I simply ask if two of my favorite authors, you and Van1, were invited to participate since I don’t see either of you in the list of authors. My comment got deleted yet someone else asked about two of their favorite authors and it posted. I’m going to assume you and Van1 are being blacklisted by the self proclaimed “elites” of Lit Loving Wives. Personally I believe most of the trend of wimpy husband stories is due to the influence of these self proclaimed elites. The majority of them have an egregious dislike of strong husbands/men and any type of violence. The new trendy cancel culture is alive and well in Lit.
Thanks for taking the time to try and write a decent 750 word story. I think you did quite well in your tale of deceit and infidelity. Of course the story is screaming for another chapter but all in all what you meant to say about the relationship was very well executed. KUDOS You and Van are my top authors in all the various websites combined. 26thNC said it best. LW on the LIT. pages really suck. Nothing but authors writing about weak and wimpy men that don’t seem to have any balls anymore, that can’t stand up for themselves. Well thank the US Justice system and divorce system that emasculates men for everything. Oops, I’m starting to rant. LOVED YOUR TALE Keep writing!!
Love the song, love the story. Please finish, as you need more presence on LW. It’s gotten so bad that I’m about ready to give it up as a waste of time. There are a few new authors with decent stories, but most write the same template cuck stories. I’ve worked hard to be the most hated commenter on LW, and I hate to give that up. I have personal attacks from famous authors like Randi, Kimmi, Lue, HarryVagina, HDK, and many others. Most of them also send private emails hurting my tender feelings. I have read all your stories, excepting the cuck story, at least six times. Write more stories, and if you have time, drop a couple Brown snakes in Lue’s mailbox.
Hey 26thNC,
You’ve got me thinking and researching divorce songs hahahaha. Of course, after that I will have to find a really good BTB song lol. I have just edited another Van1 story so keep your eyes out for it. I think he’s going to upload it to LW the same time as he does here on the blog cos it takes nigh on a week to go through the approval process on LW anyway.
I’m hearing you about Lit. Van1 and I still get one-bombed and not just on new stories. One of my old stories recently received 50+ votes in one evening and they must have all been one votes as the score on that story dropped by .04. Honestly, they need to get lives!
Talk soon
CTC
Typical of me, after re-reading your comment I thought of more things I wanted to ask you and tell you.
Info for you: Randi and Kimmi are the one and same person and another Lit username for Randi is WhatDreamsMayCome (I think that’s how its spelt)
And my question for you is; what story of mine is cuck?
Last but not least I’m finding a song to do a continuation!
Cheers,
CTC
difficult as it was for you, you grabbed her emotions by the throat as the husband squeezed. Well written
Hi Doug,
Thanks so much for the compliment. I feel encouraged! I may have to continue Annabelle and Phillip’s story via another song!
Cheers,
CTC
My emails alone are usually over 750 words, and all I end asking in they end is what do you want me to pickup for dinner. So I can’t even begin to imagine writing a story with that limit. good job CTC
Hey, I get elevated heart rate and sweaty palms in the beer aisle so don’t judge.LOL
Dean
Hey DC,
You made me laugh as Van1 made a similar statement about the beer aisle! Great minds think alike?
Cheers,
CTC
While I enjoyed the story your preface is exactly why I don’t like the 750 Word Project. I’ve seen several potentially great stories ham stringed by the 750 word restrictions.
Hi Firefox59,
Thanks fore taking the time to read and comment. We love hearing from readers! As you can see by my tale not being a complete story, I’m not great at limiting myself to only 750 words. I may have to find another song and continue the tale hahahaha!
Cheers,
CTC