Page 68 of The Bad Husband

I thought it would last longer than that, but then again, this was a different type of party.

Besides, Damon West is expected at the club.

Keira and I enter the kitchen, looking for what’s left of the delicious white chocolate cranberry cake.

I walk in, convinced that the staff and Livia are here, and Damon and Henrietta are gone, when Keira’s phone rings.

Her expression changes as soon as she picks up the call and glances over my shoulder.

I flick my eyes to the kitchen island and spot Damon. He watches us with a frozen expression.

His suit jacket is open. His elbows rest on the counter. His neckline is open, too.

His eyes meet mine with surgical precision.

They shift quickly to my left as a soft rustle clues me in that his wife is right behind me.

I slide to the side while Henrietta walks to him, turns around to face Keira and me, and blocks my view of him.

I can still see his face, and he looks pissed.

Keira presses her phone to her chest and looks at me.

“Frankie’s at the bar tonight. What about we go there to meet him?”

Her question is for me, yet her eyes move behind me.

I look in that direction and watch Damon shake his head behind his wife as if he has a say in this.

Oblivious to his signaling to me, Henrietta stares at me.

I can’t keep looking at Damon, so I shift my focus to her.

“Which Frankie?” she asks, as if it’s her business.

“Keira’s friend,” I say before she has the chance to answer.

Irritated by the entire conversation, I look at Keira.

“We’ll be there,” I say.

I expect Damon to ask a question, but Henrietta speaks instead.

“Where is there?”

If you didn’t know anything about us, you’d think we’re a loving family, and she’s my overly concerned mother.

My mother never asked questions like this.

The barstool at the kitchen island scrapes back as Damon rises to his feet and buttons his suit jacket.

He looks dark when he walks past me.

Keira gives Henrietta a casual answer, and I’m sure he catches that, although he probably knows the place.

There aren’t many bars in town. Not many are open late either.

I watch him walk away as if I watch my good fortune vanish. Something doesn’t feel right as his shoulders seem tense like stones.