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Making eye contact once again, I wish I’d decided to stay so I could hear his voice some more. It’s for the best that I leave.
“Right. Have a good rest of your Sunday… Lachlan.”
I get up from the barstool slowly, unable to pull my attention away from his gaze. It’s a silent war playing out between us. I so desperately want to ask him about what happened earlier in church. I don’t know if I’d like the answer either way.
What I do know is I want to get to know him and that’s problematic.
“Take care, Avery.”
I shiver as my name leaves his lips. A smirk curls up one side of Lachlan’s mouth.
Just great. He can tell what his words do to me, and he likes it. Wait, he likes it, doesn’t he? Another reaction I shouldn’t unpack from him.
I can’t take his eyes on me anymore, so I do what I do best. Ignore whatever it is that I am feeling, leaving so much unanswered… and I walk away.
Giving him a final nod before disappearing.
Returning home, I find Kevin in his office. He’s staring at his computer screen, black thick-rimmed glasses on, and a scotch sweating onto his cherry-wood desk.
Even though I’m clearly visible in the hallway, he hasn’t noticed me yet. Who is this man whom I thought I knew? Even now, as I look back on how destined our marriage was to fail, I just didn’t see this happening to me.
My husband is a cheater, and I’m at peace with it. With the end of us.
I’m not sure I would have had the courage to leave him otherwise. If this hadn’t happened, would I have been lonely for the rest of my life? I feel more alone than I ever have, but it’s a different kind of loneliness. I’m only twenty-eight; I can start over. Maybe this is a chance to go after the life I’m meant to be living.
Walking the few paces closer to his door, I gently knock my knuckles against it to signal my presence.
“Knock, knock,” I say out loud as I tap louder.
Kevin looks up, surprised to find me standing in front of him. I’m not sure why—I actually live here. If anything, his using the home office is a surprise to me.
“Avery,” he responds emotionless before returning his focus back to his screen.
“Out golfing today?”
He looks up, once again surprised I’m making any conversation at all. Honestly? I’m not sure why I am either.
He leans back in his chair, gripping the armrests lightly. I adjust myself to be standing centered in his doorway. Taking off his glasses, he wipes his eyes before resting them on the desk next to his scotch.
“Yeah, went out with Frank to discuss business,” he replies coolly.
“Business?”
“Nothing to worry about, sweetheart.”
I wince at his tone that this topic is off-limits to him.
“How’s Frank doing? I saw Missy today at church,” I say to steer the conversation in a different direction.
“Good. Did she mention they want us to come by for dinner soon? I’ll have my assistant arrange the details for us so it works with my schedule,” he answers curtly.
Of course, his assistant will. At least I have the satisfaction of knowing she’s probably fuming having to schedule it.
I plaster on my usual fake smile. One that he doesn’t know isn’t real.
“That’s great, looking forward to it.”
Even though I know I’m leaving Kevin, I can’t let on to him that I am. For the time being, I need to be his trophy wife who asks, “How high?” when he says, “Jump.”
