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“I know what you’re thinking, hating the idea of breaking up your marriage, but from where I’m standing, there’s not all that much to break up. You glow when you talk about him. There’s a light in your eyes I have never seen. I don’t know. I think if a man made me feel that, I wouldn’t let him go so easily.”
“He’s married, Candice. We both are.”
“Yeah, he is, but he’s on the other end of those texts and phone calls. He met up with you, Tilly. He might be married, but I’m guessing not happily.”
“It’s wrong.” Tilly had a hard time saying those words because deep down, she didn’t feel it was wrong. Not at all.
“So is eating ham and pineapple on pizza, but people still do it.” Candice smiled at her friend, sobered and added, “Give yourself something, give yourself this one time in your life to do what you want. Be fucking selfish for once.”
She wanted to be selfish, wanted to reach out to Gage, but it wasn’t that easy. Actions had consequences, but it wouldn’t just be her paying them if she followed her heart.
_______________
The small candles were burned down to the wick. The once chilled wine, growing warm with every passing minute. Gage sat on the bed, staring at the wall, seeing nothing. He glanced at the clock and his phone countless times. Minutes turned to hours, and with it, the anger inside built. He did his best to keep it at bay, knowing that he would be confronting her. As if his thoughts conjured her, he heard the back door open then close. He calculated her steps. Moving to the fridge, she grabbed a bottle of water. The sound of her heels bringing her to the living room, where she dropped her purse and briefcase on the chair. The sound grew closer as she made her way to the stairs, stopping by the side table to turn off the light he always left on for her. He counted her steps on the stairs then within seconds, the bedroom door opened.
His eyes went to hers, hers took in the room: low light coming from the stand lamp in the corner, candles arranged around the bedroom, casting a glow of amber ambience to the room. Her eyes moved to the bottle of unopened wine, and the two crystal wine glasses sitting next to it. The music, he had turned off over an hour ago.
Heather’s eyes settled on Gage, who sat on top of the plush light blue duvet in only his boxer briefs. “Oh my God.”
“Yeah,” Gage grumbled, his voice hoarse from lack of use.
She moved quickly toward him. Stopped at the side of the bed, dropped to her knees. “What can I do to make it up to you?” Her eyes drifted down his body, landing on his crotch. They moved back up holding a twinkle in them. “I know how,” she whispered, as her hand moved toward his waist, her fingers teasing the edge of his briefs.
“Stop.” He gripped her hand and removed it from his body. “It doesn’t work like that anymore, Heather. A blow job isn’t gonna fix the fact that we had plans to spend the night together. Just me and you and you forgot,” Gage paused and snapped, “Again.”
Heather rose quickly, kicking off her heels in anger. “What do you want me to say, sorry?”
“No!” Gage shouted and jumped up from his spot on the bed. “No, Heather, we are so fucking past saying I’m sorry. That shit doesn’t work anymore.”
Heather stopped the assault on the buttons of her blouse to throw her arms out to her sides. “I have a career, Gage. I work and—”
“So do I!” Gage bit out.
Heather tossed a hand in the air and went back to undressing. “You can come and go as you please.”
Gage didn’t know why that comment bothered him, but it did. Anger began to rise; he tried his best to keep it in check, but after weeks of trying to make an effort in repairing his marriage and finding out that he was the only one, it boiled over.
He reached out, grabbed a wine glass and threw it against the wall. The sound of shattering glass resonated through the room. Heather abruptly halted her steps and turned swiftly. “What the hell?” She screeched.
“Weeks,” Gage rumbled. “I’ve tried for weeks to work on our marriage.” He started to pace, running his hands through his hair. He stopped mid step. “But guess what, Heather, it takes two fucking people to work at it.”
“I’ve been,” she spat at him, but even the look in her eyes said she was lying.
Gage let out a disgusted chuckle. “Oh yeah. Like when you stood me up last week? Oh wait,” He let out another chuckle. “How about two days ago when you only spent an hour with me and our daughter at the movies and had to rush off to fax some fucking papers. Papers that could have waited two more fucking hours.”
“Don’t do this.” Heather ripped the blouse sleeves down her arms, throwing it to the floor.
“Do what, Heather? What in the fuck am I doing but giving you my attention?” Gage bit back, throwing his hand out at her.
Heather leaned in toward him. “You’re making me sound like a bad parent.” She hissed through clenched teeth.
Gage moved toward her. “Did you know our daughter was asked to move up to the advanced math class?”
Heather opened her mouth, looked to the floor, but didn’t say anything.
“Exactly.” Gage spat out. “Did you know she wasn’t changing for gym?”
“Well—”
