I don’t move,my back against the wall as her words wash over me. My phone is in my hand, and I check the video is still recording before holding it out closer to the door—not trying to get them on the screen, but hoping the mic picks up their voices.
I wish I was more surprised.
Even though I’m not, I also wish that Caroline’sduplicity still didn’t hurt quite so much. No one grows up expecting their sister to betray them like this.
Stealing clothes or makeup? Sure.
Sleeping with your husband of a decade and father to your children? Not so much.
And there is not one part of me that doubts they’ve slept together. I won’t let them gaslight me into believing otherwise.
“This isn’t about you, Caro.”Caro.A name I’ve never heard him call her, but now, it rolls off his tongue with ease. “None of this was supposed to fucking happen. She won’t even talk to me! How am I supposed to stop it?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” my sister says sarcastically. “Why not turn the clock back and not fuck anything in a short skirt?” A slight thump, like she’s stomping her foot. “You knew the risks you were taking. It’s not like you even tried to hide it. I found out, and so did?—”
“Shut up!” The demand is a furious bark of sound. “You found out and immediately used it to your advantage. Don’t act like you’re some innocent party here.”
A pause before she lets out a low, simpering laugh. I turn and peer through the crack of the door, finding him standing in front of the mantel, looking rumpled, with his hair tousled and suit creased. Caroline’s back is to me, her hair is wild around her head, her hips swaying in a form-fitting black dress as she walks toward him.
“It’s not like I had to try very hard to get you into bed.” It’s a silky reminder as she touches him, reaching out to tug at his lapels. “You were quite happy to fuck me whenever and wherever I wanted. You remember Lynley’s birthday dinner?”
“I remember you hiking up your skirt and presenting yourself to me in the bathroom, like my wife and yourhusband weren’t just on the other side of the door,” Christopher says back, voice low. He wraps an arm around her waist, yanking her into him, his other hand roughly cupping her ass. “I remember you weren’t wearing underwear, sloppy and desperate for it.”
I hurriedly edge backward, slapping a hand over my mouth as it fills with saliva, as if that’ll be able to stop the vomit threatening to come out. I suck in a deep breath, fighting the nausea, but then Christopher’s tone changes, distracting me.
“Of course, you weren’t too worried about using me, were you? Threatening to blow up both of our lives if I didn’t keep your dirty secret.” There’s a loud cry, and I can’t stop myself from looking again, shocked to find Caroline sprawled on the floor like he just shoved her. “News-fucking-flash, Caroline. You weren’t worth the headache.”
Staring up at him from her spot on the floor, she sneers. “Didn’t stop you from fucking me an hour ago, though, did it?”
“I’m goddamn stressed!” he yells. “What the hell did you expect? You came running as soon as you found out what Lynley did, and I know you weren’t offering me a shoulder to cry on.”
She gets to her feet, brushing off her dress and letting out a haughty sniff. “We both know you wouldn’t be crying anyway. You don’t love my sister. You don’t love anyone but yourself.”
For a long moment, neither of them speaks, their breathing filling the silence. I look back into the room, seeing Christopher standing there, defeated, his shoulders hunched, while Caroline stares down at her phone.
A minute passes, and then she asks, “What gave youaway? Did she say?” My sister purses her lips thoughtfully. “Does she know about me?”
I do now, you bitch.
“She hasn’t said a word.” Christopher sounds bewildered. “She hasn’t spoken to me at all.”
Caroline shrugs lightly. “She’s not answering my calls, either. I wouldn’t worry. She’s probably off, crying somewhere, finally realizing that no man is ever going to truly want her. Why would they when they can have someone like me?”
Unable to stomach any more, I tuck my phone—still recording—into my pocket and casually walk into the room, slowly clapping.
“Wow.” I eye them both, letting them see every ounce of the disgust I feel. “That was some show you guys put on.”
Christopher’s head jerks up, his face falling before he sets it into something placating. “Lynnie…” He breathes. “You’re here.”
Caroline’s eyes bounce between the two of us, her expression twisted into something ugly. Once she realizes my attention is on her, she pulls her mask down, hiding behind a tight smile.
“Lynley,” she coos gently, her tone telling me she’s about to try her hand at manipulating me. “We’ve been so worried about you. You’re obviously depressed or something, but there’s no need for such drastic measures. We can get you help.” She heads toward me, arms out like she might hug me.
“Please don’t touch me,” I tell her curtly, and she draws up short. “I know where your hands have been. I’ve already been tested, and I don’t really want to go through that again.”
Her skin goes splotchy, eyes glinting with anger. “Idon’t know what you’re talking about,” she grits out. “We’ve been here, trying to work out where you are and what is wrong… and how to get you the help you obviously need.” She shakes her head, eyes sad. “You’re throwing a bomb on everyone’s lives, and it feels like you don’t even care. Don’t you think you should be more worried about Mase and Ginny, and how your choices are going to affect them?”
“I guess I should worry about them,” I say conversationally, “because you clearly weren’t when you were fucking their father.”
