Page 38 of The Logic of Loyalty

“Yeah. I had Krista send her messages throughout the day from the moment she dropped the phone.”

“And did she send those messages?”

“Of course she did. She showed me.”

“Hmm.” Billy nods at me, but he doesn’t look convinced. Something uncomfortable takes root in my gut at his insinuation.

“I get to the party, and it’s way bigger than I originally thought it was going to be. I expected you all, but instead, it was a party full of the people I try to avoid at work.”

“Did Paige not talk to you about it?”

“About what?”

“The party?”

I close my eyes and try to think back to our discussion about the Fourth. Fuck. “I think she may have, and instead of clarifying, I assumed.”

“Hmm.”

“I want to throat punch that hmm right out of you.”

“Try it, Trev.”

Rolling my eyes, I pick up my teacup and start fiddling with it. “Something was off with Paige. I noticed right away. At first, I assumed she was annoyed that I was late, but she’s never iced me out before.”

“Did you ask?”

“Stop asking questions.”

“Maybe ask more questions,” he shoots back, not missing a beat.

“I wasn’t in a great mindset. I’ll admit it. Then Krista shows up, which I couldn’t have cared less about, except I drove out of my way to get her to her house, just to have her show up at our home. It really pissed me off.” Her walking into my backyard was fine—until it wasn’t. “She was dressed for attention and got it from all corners of the party, including my sister’s boyfriend.”

“I fucking hate that guy.”

“Trust me, you’ll like him even less.” I stand up and start pacing the small apartment. “He made some derogatory comment about her.” I scratch at a mark on the wall, but it won’t come off. “Which is shitty enough in itself.”

“What did he say?”

The moment plays out in my mind like an old reel. Bobby’s smarmy face, Bethany’s heartbroken one, and the words he spoke. I say them, though they feel thick and uncomfortable in my mouth. “’You know she’s a hot little piece.’ My silence was enough for him to continue. ’I love watching her in those tight little skirts in the office. How do you get anything done with that around all the time?’ Then he laughed and slapped me on the arm like we’re in the same club.” Billy’s cup hits the saucer with a loud clank. Our eyes meet, and his look is murderous. “I—did not say anything.” Billy’s jaw drops, and then he closes his mouth and looks so disappointed.

“It gets worse.”

“Of fucking course it does.”

“Paige brought up Bobby and Krista earlier in the week, but I dismissed it at first because I trusted Krista. I trusted her not to be that kind of person. I did not trust Bobby, though. Then something at work didn’t add up, so I started watching them. It wasn’t enough to make a judgment call. Until the Fourth. What Bobby said at the party was enough for me to put it all together.” I shake my head. “It goes deeper than some infatuation between the two of them.”

“It?”

“I’m working on something at work, but that’s a whole different thing.” I swipe my hand through the air. “Long story short, for reasons I don’t have time to get into, it seemed like a good idea to take Krista to the concert.” Billy looks unconvinced, but so am I. “Things got messy while I was there with her, and some … details … came to light. I have spent the last however many hours trying to piece it all together in my mind, and that doesn’t even include the nuclear bomb my wife dropped on me last night.” I pause. Shit. We haven’t talked about telling anyone.

“That she’s pregnant.” Billy finishes for me.

“Yeah, that she’s pregnant.” I look at the old shag carpet lining the floors. “Look, man, I regretted it the moment I left the house, but whenever I tried calling Paige to check in, she would ignore the call.”

Billy follows the path I’m wearing into his floors. “Your phone is broken.”

I pause my pacing. “Well, yeah, but I know her number. I borrowed Krista’s phone, and then Nick’s phone.”