Page 24 of The Bad Husband

She’ll probably be married by then and have children. She loves them so much.

At the same time, I might become a memory of the past if life pulls us onto different paths.

“What’s his name?”

My question takes her by surprise.

“Oh. Nicky. His name is Benjamin, but everybody calls him Nicky. He wants to be called Nicky.”

“Great. You want me to hook up with some guy who loathes himself so much that he doesn’t even like his name? Is there anything else he doesn’t like about himself besides his name?”

She shakes her head.

“Do you have a picture of him?” I ask.

The server approaches our table and sets a plate of food in front of her before asking me if I need anything else.

“I’m good. Thank you.”

Keira and I are alone again.

Holding her juicy burger with both hands, she takes a generous bite. I watch her, mesmerized by how she enjoys her food without smearing her lipstick.

It takes practice, I guess.

She flicks a finger up and talks around her food.

“I actually have. Just give me a second.”

“Sure. Eat your food. There’s no rush.”

She chews in silence while I contemplate ordering another burger with a side of fries to take home.

It’s really delicious.

“Here,” she says, tapping her lips with a napkin and swiping her phone screen with a finger before strolling down, looking for some pictures of this man.

“There he is,” she says, tapping the screen with her forefinger before taking another bite.

I snatch up her phone and check the picture. The photograph was taken in the store.

“Which one is him?”

“The cute one.”

“They’re both cute,” I comment, looking at the two men surrounded by a group of women.

A smile curves her lips.

“You’re so easy on them. The cuter one.”

“The cuter one… Are you testing me now?” I ask, checking the two males.

“Yes.”

She’s having fun with this.

“Are they both available?” I ask, throwing a wrench into her plans.