“What a thoughtful husband.”
The next step belonged to her.
Tessa called him from her real number while I sat beside her. She put the phone on speaker.
He answered immediately.
“Tessa?”
“We need to meet.”
“I told you this is over.”
“You told me you loved me.”
“Keep your voice down.”
“You’re not even near me.”
“Just stop, okay? You made your point with my back.”
“Did Rachel see it?”
His silence answered.
Tessa continued, “I’m going to tell her everything.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’ll destroy my life.”
“You destroyed your life.”
“Tessa, please. Meet me tomorrow. We can talk.”
“Where?”
He suggested a restaurant near his office.
After the call, Tessa looked at me.
“Do you think he’ll confess?”
“Not unless he believes confessing is the safer option.”
So I gave him one.
That evening, I sat beside Grant on the couch while he pretended to watch television.
“Can I ask you something?” I said.
He stiffened.
“Sure.”
“Are you happy?”
He studied me carefully.
“Of course I am.”
“With us?”
“Where is this coming from?”
“I don’t know. You’ve seemed distracted since you came home.”
“It’s work.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
I nodded.
“I was thinking we could have dinner tomorrow night. Somewhere nice.”
His expression changed.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“I may have to work late.”
“Again?”
“We’re dealing with the account from the conference.”
The lie came so easily that I almost admired it.
“Then Friday?”
“Friday works.”
I leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“Good.”
The following day, Grant left the office early and drove to the restaurant.
Tessa waited at a table near the back.
I sat in a rented car across the street, listening through her phone.
Grant arrived twelve minutes late.
“What do you want?” he asked before he even sat down.
Tessa kept her voice calm.
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