The Unknown Number Rings
You curse and your partner reaches to pick it up.
This is a collaborative choose your own adventure story. Click here for the chapter guide. Go back to chapter 1 by Linden Schneider here. Return to the previous chapter here.
It jolts you when your partner’s phone rings with an unknown number.
You curse and your partner reaches to pick it up.
To your surprise, your partner puts their phone on speaker. They give you a wink. “No secrets.”
A rustle of something sounds from the other end of the phone line. “Is this…” They say your partner’s name. The voice speaks with an unpleasant lisp.
Your partner frowns. “Yes, I am. And who are you?”
That voice chuckles, a full-throated laugh. “How can you not remember me, darling? Oh, how my body fills with longing when I think of how you might touch me again.”
Aghast, you glare at your partner, especially as you just discussed with them whether they’ve ever been unfaithful to you.
But your partner’s face is as stern as stone. “I don’t recognize you at all. And I don’t have time for sexual harassers like you.”
“Sexual harasser? What the hell?” They sound outraged. “I can’t believe it. My sweet name, if you could deign to remember, is Varia. You used to tell me how soft and silky my skin was, that I had such bright and beautiful eyes. You would say all this while you mold yourself to my body.”
Fury rises in you like steam, even while your partner shakes their head. They hover their finger over the hang up button, but you bat their hand away. You hiss, “I want to hear more of this. I’m not convinced that this is just a fake call.”
Your partner is sullen. “Fine, do what you like.” They push the phone towards you.
Varia speaks again, “Ha! Was that your spouse on the line? Heh, spouses can get jealous so easily. That’s why I told you not to bother with marriage, but you wouldn’t listen. It was so fun hanging out with you. I wish we could do it again.”
“Not on my watch,” you growl at the screen.
Varia pauses for a beat, then laughs, their voice like a singsong. “From the pictures that I’ve seen online, you’re quite a juicy morsel yourself. I wouldn’t mind taking both of you — ”
“No!” you shout.
You are tempted to slam the hang-up button, but if you do, you may never find out what your partner did. Whether this is an annoying ex, or someone they’re still seeing behind your back.
Learning the truth could be painful, though, and it might destroy your marriage.
