Page 22 of Grumpy Orc Daddy
In a moment of pure, unadulterated joy, Claire reaches out and playfully nudges my shoulder, her touch lingering just a beat longer than necessary.
It's then that I catch a glimpse of Rayna from the corner of my eye, her gaze fixed intently on us, a flicker of something unfamiliar dancing across her features. In that moment, I see it – a flash of emotion, raw and unguarded, that speaks volumes without a single word uttered. It's a pang of jealousy, unmistakable in its intensity, and it takes me by surprise, sending ripples of confusion through my mind.
CHAPTER 13
Rayna
Am I really feeling jealous? This isn’t like me at all, and moreover, I can’t believe I’m jealous of Janta. Logically, I know I’m being an irrational person right now.
However, there’s something that still bugs me and won’t let me accept the fact that he can talk to whoever he wants and I’m not in a position to ask him deep detailed questions.
Jealousy is a mischievous demon, whispering insidious doubts that feed on my deepest insecurities, but I shouldn’t let it take over me.
“Get a grip Rayna,” my inner voice speaks to me with anger, but it’s drowned by a chorus of doubts.
This overwhelming sense of mistrust isn't like me at all. I've never been the jealous type.
I can't shake the image from my mind—Janta and Claire, heads bent together, lost in conversation as their children play. A strained laugh escapes Claire's lips, and Janta flashes that warm, genuine smile that I thought was reserved just for me. My stomach twists into a knot, a familiar ache spreading through my chest.
In the days that follow, the scene replays on a loop, taunting me. Every casual touch, every shared glance takes on a new, sinister meaning. I find myself scrutinizing Janta's every move, searching for clues that my darkest fears are justified.
As we settle onto the couch after dinner, Janta reaches for the remote, but my eyes are drawn to the way his fingers linger on Claire's name in his phone contacts. Is that a new inside joke they've shared? A private message, disguised in seeming innocence?
"Everything okay?" Janta's voice breaks through my reverie, and I realize I've been staring.
"Fine," I lie, forcing a tight smile. "Just lost in thought."
He nods, seemingly satisfied, and turns his attention to the television. But my mind is elsewhere, replaying every interaction, every laugh shared between him and Claire. Surely, I'm just imagining things—Janta would never betray me like that. And yet, the doubt persists, a poisonous seed taking root.
Later, I lie awake, my thoughts a tangled mess of insecurity and doubt. What if he's losing interest? What if Claire offers something I can't? The questions swirl endlessly, taunting me with their endless possibilities.
Deep down, I know this jealousy is a beast of my own making, a desperate attempt to find meaning where there is none. But still, it claws at me, whispering that even the smallest glances harbor deeper meaning. And as the distance between Janta and me grows, I can't help but wonder if this is how it all begins to unravel.
The doubts fester, an open wound that refuses to heal. Each sidelong glance, every muffled laugh shared between Janta and Claire, feels like a dagger to my heart. I can no longer suffer in silence.
One evening, as Janta settles into his favorite chair, I steel myself, drawing a steadying breath. "We need to talk about Claire."
He looks up, brow furrowed. "What about her?"
"Don't play dumb," I snap, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. "I've seen the way you two act together—the inside jokes, the lingering touches. Is there something going on that I should know about?"
Janta's eyes widen, and he lets out a surprised chuckle that only serves to stroke my anger. "Rayna, you're being ridiculous. Claire and I are just friends."
"Oh, really?" I challenge, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "Because from where I'm standing, it seems like more than that."
He runs a frustrated hand through his hair. "I don't know what you want me to say. We chat at the playgroup, that's all. You're reading way too much into this."
"Am I?" I counter, sensing the desperation creeping into my voice. "Because I can't shake this feeling that you're keeping something from me."
Janta rises from his chair, closing the distance between us. "Rayna, listen to me." His hands find my shoulders, firmly steadying me. "You have nothing to worry about, okay? Claire is just a friend—nothing more. I promise."
I search his eyes, aching to believe him, to silence the doubts that threaten to consume me. But the demon of jealousy has sunk its claws in deep, whispering that his reassurances are just empty words.
"I don't know," I murmur, pulling away from his embrace. "I just... I need some space to think."
As I retreat to the bedroom, Janta's pleading voice follows me, but I can't bring myself to turn back. Not until I've untangled this mess of emotions, laid bare the truth that hides beneath the surface.
The bedroom door slams behind me, but the sound does little to drown out the rising voices from the living room. Janta's footsteps follow, heavy and insistent.