Page 58 of The Bad Husband

And that’s the end of the story.

For tonight.

10

LILA

Saturday

Keira calls me around four in the afternoon.

She wakes me.

“What’s going on, girlie?”

“Uh, what?”

“Are you asleep?’

I push upright, run a hand over my eyes and squint at the glass doors. The weather is perfect. Bright sun. Blue sky. A nice breeze makes the trees sway gently.

I move the same tense hand over my mouth as I push to my feet and walk to the patio doors.

I tug at one and slide it open before the oppressive humidity hits me.

“Oh, shit. It’s hot outside.”

“It sure is. How were things last night?”

“Last night?”

“Yeah. Did you get home all right?”

“Yes. Everything was fine.”

So many things have happened since she and I split our ways last night.

“You seem in a good mood,” I say.

She laughs.

“You got that right. I want to have some fun. Do you have plans for tonight?”

I move away from the patio doors and walk out of the room.

“Lila?”

“Yeah. I’m here,” I say quietly. “What about we do this? Let me check if there’s anyone’s in the house. I’ll call you in a couple of minutes. Maybe you can come over. We can order food and have some fun by the pool.”

“Ohh… Sounds cool.”

A few moments later, I put on some clothes, gather my hair into a ponytail, and walk downstairs.

All the staff members are in the kitchen, so my hope of being alone swiftly gets shattered.

Platters of food sit on the kitchen island––the same place where I sat last night when he returned my earring and collected the microphone from under the counter.

The most beautiful layered cakes perched on cake stands. Trays of appetizers. Bowls of salad. Everything arranged in great taste across the porcelain surfaces.