“So, what happened?”
“Well, both of us were shocked—”
“Obviously,” she rolled her eyes, but then paused. “You don’t think he knew who you were all along?”
I thought about it, the way we met and how charming he was. “I suppose he could have somehow found out where I was going and followed me, but what would be the point? He didn’t even want a wedding ceremony. It’s not like he was rooting for this wedding.”
“Right, but he did ask you to stay with him on the island. I’m just saying, it seems like an awfully big risk for a man who stood to lose so much.”
“I stood to lose the same thing,” I pointed out.
“Yes, but you’re a woman. We have feelings.”
I pulled at the sleeves of my sweater, bundling myself as far as I could inside. For some reason, it felt colder than normal in my apartment, but I didn’t think it had anything to do with the heat. “I just can’t believe that everything on the island was a lie. And we both knew what we were going home to. Why wouldn’t he have revealed it at some point? It would have saved a lot of heartache.”
“Because he knew if he got caught, you’d be pissed.”
“Well, I have to tell you, I’d be even more pissed if I found out now that he knew all along.”
She shook her head, her fingers pressed against her lips. “He just…wow.”
“My feelings precisely.”
“So, what happened after you figured it all out?”
“We went to the board meeting. One of the members was trying to get him kicked out for some reason. I stood up for him, and he basically mocked me to the men in the room.”
Her eyes went wide at that. She knew one of the reasons I was getting away was to avoid shit like this. “What did you do?”
“I think I was in shock. It was strange hearing him speak about me like that.”
“What did he say?”
“It was something along the lines of me having a sharp tongue and they should avoid me.”
I could tell by the look on her face, she didn’t think it was that bad.
“You had to be there. It was like he was diffusing the tension in the room, and mocking me was the best way to do it. I thought I was doing my wifely duty by standing up for him, and instead, they all laughed. It was embarrassing.”
“But he was probably just as off his game as you were.”
I rolled my eyes, standing from the couch and walking over to the window. “Why are you standing up for him?”
“Because you love this man. You cheated on your husband with him.”
I spun and faced her. “He is my husband.”
“Yes, but you both cheated on your spouses. You just didn’t know it at the time that it wasn’t really cheating. And you were so determined to get away from Alexander after the time was right, I just can’t see how you’re so upset now that the man you love is right in front of you. You have everything you want!”
I rubbed my forehead, sighing slightly. “I know. I know I should be happy, but…doesn’t this all seem just a little strange to you?”
“A little? It’s fucking weird as hell. I mean, what are the odds?”
I looked around my apartment. It wasn’t anything extravagant, more modern elegance with a touch of old money thrown in. I kept things minimal around here, constantly reminding myself what my end goal was: to escape this life completely. But my father got me this apartment when I turned twenty-one. He thought it was wise of me to have a place of my own. Now, I couldn’t wait to leave it.
“So, you’re planning on moving in with him, right?”
“We’re having dinner tonight, so I imagine we’ll discuss it then.”