Lie, Lie Again(50)

“Yes! It’d be so fun to double-date.”

Sylvia set down her fork. “Now that I think about it, you really should stay away from the internet. One of my friends went out with someone who’d said he was a specialist at Apple. Turns out, he worked at the Genius Bar. Can you imagine? I suppose he could’ve fixed her iPhone in a pinch. But that’s what I mean. People can lie so easily on the internet and pass it off as truth.” Although they can do that in person too, she thought.

“You’re right. I was just trying to be open to all the available options.”

“Well, if you decide to do it, I’m happy to help you set up your online profile, but consider yourself warned.”

“Thanks.”

Sarah leaned forward, clearly eager to rejoin the conversation. “Speaking of men, how was your weekend with your boyfriend?”

Sylvia finished her vodka and set the glass firmly on the table. “It was awful. He vanished for a few days.”

They both turned to her, their mouths hanging open like carps. “What?” Sarah whispered.

“Yeah, fill us in. This doesn’t sound good,” Belinda added, her eyes wide with concern.

Sylvia spun her empty glass in a slow circle. “He wasn’t at his place when I arrived on Friday. When I was standing outside his door, his neighbor, who I’d never met, came home and told me that Hugh doesn’t live there. Someone named Sammy, who has been out of town, does.”

Sarah’s shoulders caved in around her. “Oh my. He’s gay?” she asked in a small voice. “Is Sammy his boyfriend?”

Belinda shot her a look. “It sounds like he’s using someone else’s apartment and calling it his own. Isn’t that right, Sylvia?”

“Indeed. Although at the time, I presumed his neighbor was mistaken. I thought something terrible had happened. When I still hadn’t heard from him by Saturday morning, I made one last attempt to reach him before I planned to call the police and report him missing.” She took a deep breath. It wasn’t hard to fake her distress. The wound was still fresh, though now it burned with a need for revenge.

“What happened? Did you reach him?”

“He didn’t answer. But his wife did. He was busy bathing their baby.”

“He’s married and a dad?” Sarah squeaked, quickly jerking a hand to her mouth and darting her eyes left and right to see if anyone was listening. “That’s terrible!” she said in a whisper.

Hugh’s unsuspecting face popped into her head, and Sylvia frowned. “Isn’t it, though? He piled one lie on top of the next.”

Sarah nervously tugged a strand of limp hair and leaned forward. “That’s why you went to the bathroom. You don’t have allergies! You were crying.”

Sylvia turned an unblinking gaze on Sarah, holding it until it looked as though she might regurgitate her strawberry daiquiri. “Wouldn’t you?”

“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t have cried. I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

“Forgive me if I’m on edge. I confronted him with the truth, as anyone would in my situation, and instead of offering me an apology, he made threats.” She shook her head. “I’m sure it’s nothing. He won’t act on any threats, right?” she asked with a forced laugh. She’d learned a long time ago, the more she denied something, the more others would insist.

Belinda placed a comforting hand on hers. “You can’t be too careful. What is he saying?”

She shrugged. “That he’ll kill me if I tell his wife.”

Sarah gasped hard and began hacking. Good thing she didn’t have a slug of daiquiri in her mouth. She would’ve sprayed it across the table.

“I would go to the police,” Belinda said firmly once Sarah’s coughing fit ended.

“What can the police do? To be honest, I just want him to go away. Ignoring him is really the only solution.”

“I disagree. Take action. Far too many women don’t realize how dangerous an ex can be until it’s too late.”

Sylvia flicked her gaze to Belinda. “I really appreciate your concern. Seriously. But I’d rather not think about it anymore. I didn’t want to tell anyone, but I have to admit, telling friends I trust helped more than I would’ve imagined. And I would appreciate it if you will both keep this to yourselves.” She looked from Belinda to Sarah, her expression somber. That should do it. Simple reverse psychology. Sarah would surely engage Belinda in a whispered conversation later, once they were alone. We should help Sylvia! It’s so sad. And without Sylvia feeding them the words, they would come to the conclusion on their own that she had dated a very bad man. Two witnesses locked in, but she needed more. The neighbors would suffice, but it would be smart to have another. When accusations were hurled at him, they would come from all directions. It made things that much more believable.

Sarah slurped the last of her daiquiri, and her eyes looked a little wobbly as she lifted her face from her straw. “I won’t tell a soul.”

“I’m here, okay?” Belinda said calmly. “You can count on me to help in whatever way I can. Angry men can be dangerous.”

“I suppose so.” She nodded, her head swimming with thoughts. “Thank you. Really. It means a lot to me.”