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“Why are you trying to reassure me?” I swallow the lump in my throat. “What’s going on? What haven’t you told me?” All the worst-case scenarios run through my mind. Heath laughing with another woman. The four of them out to dinner while I’ve been sleeping on the futon in my brother’s spare room. Him introducing our children to another woman.
“Steve has been going to the gym with Heath.” The words tumble from her mouth.
“Okay,” I drawl. “And why is that a problem?”
She shrugs. “It’s not, I suppose. I wasn’t sure how you’d feel knowing that Steve is Team Heath.”
“Wait, what? Why is he Team Heath? He shouldn’t be Team Anyone. He should be Switzerland.”
“You know what they say, bros before hos and all that.” She waves me off like it’s no big deal, but the scenes of them out with Heath and whatever woman is on his arm flashes in my mind again.
I swallow down the fear. “Why are they even going to the gym? They never did that before.”
“Steve said something about channeling unused anger and frustration.”
Well, now I want to start going to the gym. I have plenty, and I mean years worth of anger and frustration. “Maybe I should try it.”
“Oh please, Whit. It looks like you’ve lost five pounds–”
“It’s seven, but who’s counting. And besides, stress weight loss isn’t healthy weight loss.”
“Maybe you should try working out in other ways rather than using the same gym your estranged husband uses.” She gives me a wink.
“I can’t believe you think I should sleep with another man, Ru–”
“I’m not saying to sleep with another man. Lord, what kind of woman do you think I am? I’m simply saying it’s a known fact that a woman can burn up to one hundred calories for every orgasm she achieves. How’s your relationship with your vibrator these days?”
I chuckle because she’s not wrong. It’s true. I’ve looked it up. “My rabbit and I are very well acquainted, thank you very much. Believe me, he helps out greatly in maintaining the proper calorie burn.”
“Well, if you want to keep up the work on losing the weight without creeping on your hubby, maybe you should think about trading in your rabbit for something stronger like a jackhammer,” she says over her shoulders as she continues to look around the apartment.
My mood turns bleak as I think about Heath working out, possibly hanging out with his guys from the company. Him and Steve sharing a few beers while they watch the game at one of the local bars.
“Ruby,” I call out to her, “do you think Heath isn’t getting the point of the reason why I wanted to separate?”
She turns around with a sympathetic look on her face. “Oh doll face, that man loves you. He understands.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Then, with all the times we’ve talked, why hasn’t he mentioned going to the gym.”
“It’s just working out, Whitney.” She puts her hands on her hips. “No! Don’t you dare. Do not jump to conclusions.”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m the one who wanted this. How can I not have thoughts?”
“Because Heath James has only ever loved one woman that that’s you. Your marriage might have lost its steam, but there is still enough fire in both of you to make sure you get back to a roaring blaze. This is just a bump in the road. Not a roadblock. This is something that you both will overcome. Working out is healthy, honey. That’s it. He’s not the type of man to play games. He knows his family is at stake and he would not jeopardize that by trying to beef up so he can try and play the field.”
My imagination starts to go into overtime.
Heath lifting weights, his skin sheen with sweat…
The chords of his muscles straining as he does rep after rep…
The gym sluts wearing next to nothing, bending over next to him…
“Whitney,” Ruby warns.
“Okay.”
“Yeah, I’m not convinced.”
Good, she shouldn’t be, Lord knows I’m not.
