Page 76 of The Bad Husband

“Who knows?” I say in a mellow voice. “It’s possible that she traveled up north. Thank you for the ride,” I say quickly, eager to wrap it up, say goodbye to him, and go swim the entire night.

“Would you like to come to my place tomorrow night?” he asks directly, sliding a hand to my thigh.

I like that he’s direct and makes no secret about what he’d like to do to me tomorrow night.

“Uh… Yeah. Why not? I’ll call you tomorrow afternoon and let you know for sure.”

“At around seven?” he says, unperturbed.

“Seven sounds good.”

“I’ll pick you up?”

“It’s better if you text me the address.”

“Sure. We’ll do that.”

He leans to me to give me a goodbye kiss, and I also lean to him, and before our lips can touch, a thick shaft of light floods his car.

“What the fuck?” he says, straightening in his seat and turning on the engine. “Who the fuck is that?” he mutters, peering in the rearview mirror while steering his car away.

Normally I’d say it’s the police.

But since I’ve had this kind of experience, it can only be him.

Damon West.

We roll past the gate, and the lights come on, giving us a better idea of who’s driving behind us.

A black sports car pulls up in front of the gate, and we’re waiting to see it vanish through when the door on the driver’s side slides open.

“You know what?” I say, having little patience to wait and see what might happen next. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I mean tonight.”

I give Frankie a clipped smile as I touch his forearm and exit his car before he lowers his head and looks through the open window.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“Never been better,” I say, noticing that the gate is open, yet Damon is still not rolling his car through.

I give Frankie a small wave.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

He nods and flashes a charming smile, and I begin to like him just before he slowly veers away, and soon after, vanishes around the corner.

By that time, I expect to see the black car move in. Fat chance. My grin completely fades as I turn around and make a beeline for the open gate, ignoring Damon’s car.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the window on the driver’s side slide down.

Is his on-and-off wife with him? Is he alone?

Without looking at him, I move past his car.

His voice thunders behind me.

“Lila?”

I can’t imagine his wife is in the car.