Page 72 of The Logic of Loyalty

“Wait. It was you? Oh my Lord!” I throw my arms around her, cutting her off and forgetting about the ice cream in my hand. “I’m so glad that you are okay! It’s amazing how people were unwilling to talk. I was so worried!”

“Yeah. Yes. I, uh—” She coughs into her hand, backing away from me. “I was driving the old business car, and the brakes weren’t working. I tried—” Her voice breaks, and a shudder rolls through her. “I couldn’t stop. I was horrified when I woke up in the hospital. Nobody would tell me …” Her voice trails off as she stares into the space between us, her eyes going unfocused.

“I’m okay. I promise.” Thank goodness nobody told her about the babies.

She refocuses on me, her eyes lining with tears. “I’m so glad. Hey, let me cover the ice cream for you, and you can just head home to your fam—son. Shit, sorry.”

I actually laugh this time. She’s awkward as hell. “Thank you, honey. That is so sweet of you.” Frankie waves at me, then turns tail and scampers off to go do who-knows-what else she does at the store before I can say another word.

Settling into the beast of a car again, I wiggle in my seat and scowl at the gas gauge. Dangit. Already?

My phone pings on my dash, and a message pops up from Vicky, Becky’s coworker and a woman I’m growing very fond of.

Vicky

Are we still on for Joe’s tomorrow?

Paige

Absolutely. I’m on Babysit Drunk Becky Duty

Vicky

Perfect! Let’s see if we can get our girl back.

Tomorrow at 5, unless something comes up. I’m taking this to the group chat. Byeeee.

Byeeee

I sit back in my seat and tilt my head to stare at the ceiling. I want to meddle. I want to make them hear one another. I want to help them come back together, but what good is my input? My husband was dating another woman.

My husband was dating another woman.

Trevor was dating another woman while married to me.

He was dating Krista.

Trevor’s thread is easy to find when I release my frustration on him in a message.

Paige

Why the hell did you fucking date Krista you dumb ass. I think I might hate you.

My eyes bug out of my head when I realize I actually sent that. “Oh my God. Why, what? Oh, shit.” I stare at my phone when the dots immediately begin to bounce across the screen. Disappear. Appear again. Disappear again. I’m ready to throw my phone out the window when his message finally appears.

Trevor

Because I was stupid. Because I made stupid, inconceivable decisions. Because I lost sight of the most important part of my life.

Paige

Terrible reasons. You’re the smartest man I know. I guess she just made you stupid.

Trevor

NO! Not stupid from her. You’re the only one who makes me stupid

Wait, no.