One of Us Is Dead(17)

“No, babe. That’s all right. But I am hungry though,” he said, walking toward the hallway.

“Sure. I’ll make dinner.”

As he left the room, I noticed red marks on the back of his calves and neck. Poor guy. He worked too hard at the office and at the gym, and I’m sure those commutes from Atlanta to Miami and back every week were taking a toll on him. I made a mental note to urge him to take a vacation. After this recent closing, I could get away. I had more than earned it. He, Riley, and I could go someplace nice for a week or two, just the three of us.

Before pulling out the ingredients for an avocado-and-chicken salad, I poured myself a glass of red wine from a previously opened bottle. I took a long, slow sip, and as the red liquid made its way inside me, I thought of the last time Mark was also inside me—over six months ago. It was after a dinner party. We had the house to ourselves, and we were both rather intoxicated. As soon as we entered the house, he pushed me against the wall, wrapping my legs around his waist before thrusting into me. We tore into each other. It was intimate yet animalistic. I wanted him and he wanted me. These days, I’m not sure what either of us wants. I set the wineglass down and tossed the chicken breasts into a frying pan. I’m not the woman I was when he married me, and I’m not the woman I was even six months ago. I no longer know who I am, because sometimes we become strangers to even ourselves.





11

Shannon


I took a seat at a high-top table and ordered two vodka martinis from the server. I had asked Karen to meet me for a drink to discuss what had happened yesterday at the salon and to get her take on the whole thing. She was the one person I could count on to be honest with me. And while part of me wanted her honesty, that didn’t necessarily mean I was going to listen to any of it. I was dead set on winning Bryce back, and not even Karen or her pragmatism could stop me.

“Hey, hon,” Karen said as she set her tote down and pulled me in for a hug, squeezing me a little tighter than usual. She took a seat across from me and gave me a wide smile. She was definitely hiding something behind her perfect veneer.

“I ordered you a vodka martini,” I said just as the server placed one in front of both of us.

“Perfect. Thank you.” Karen brought the glass to her lips and took a small sip. “Now, what happened at the salon yesterday?”

“How did you know something happened?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Olivia.”

“Of course.” I rolled my eyes. “Well, I was pretty drunk, so my recollection of events is blurry at best, but all I know is that Olivia is a bitch.”

Karen laughed. “She said you were being rude to Crystal, and she was just defending her.”

“We all know Olivia doesn’t defend anyone but herself.”

She nodded.

“But was I being rude to the woman who stole my husband? Abso-fucking-lutely. And she deserved it.” I raised my chin.

Karen let out a sigh. “Can you really be mad at her? Bryce is the one that did this to you.”

“I still love Bryce,” I confessed.

Karen shook her head. “No, you don’t.”

“I do, and he loves me too.” I took a long sip of my martini.

“No, you don’t, and he definitely does not love you. If he loved you, he wouldn’t have done what he did. That’s not love.” She pressed her lips firmly together to make her point.

I resituated myself in my seat and sat up a little taller. “He’s just confused.”

“No, he’s just an asshole,” Karen quipped. She reached out and grabbed my hand, looking directly into my eyes. “And you can do so much better.”

I stared at her hand, deciding if I wanted to push it away or not. The weight of it felt right though. Like a small security blanket that I didn’t know I needed. “But I don’t want to do better. I want Bryce.” My bottom lip quivered.

Karen rubbed my hand. “That’s a temporary feeling, I’m sure. He’s not a good man, and to be honest, I have never liked Bryce.”

My mouth fell open. “Really? Never?”

“Never.”

My eyes darted around the room. How could she never have liked my husband without me knowing? All the dinner dates, events, and even vacations we’ve all taken together over the past decade . . . Karen sure can act. If she’s pretended to like Bryce all these years, what else is she pretending? I took a long drink of my martini and then returned my attention to her. “Well, regardless of your opinion, I’m still going to try to make our marriage work.”

Karen plucked the skewer from her empty glass and bit down on it, sliding two olives into her mouth. “That’s your decision in the end. But hell, if it’s any consolation, I’ll probably be joining your club soon.”

“What club?” I tilted my head.

“The ex-wives club.” She tossed the skewer back in the glass and pushed it away from her.

My eyes widened. “Are you and Mark getting a divorce?” I couldn’t believe it. They had always been such a solid couple. Then again, I thought Bryce and I were too.

“I’m not sure. We haven’t had sex in six months, which is both of our faults, but he just seems generally uninterested in me, and not just sexually.” Karen shrugged as if she didn’t care, but I know she did, she really did.