LYN

eet like a cheap soda, fille

n't heard in what felt like a lifetime. He never s

" His voice was full of a playful affec

sing the same pet name he us

mouth, terrified a sound

on the other end. "Do you like my new r

You have no idea how boring C

The realization was a block

"Is your wife suspiciou

to them. I had given up my design career in New York, moved to

dismissive laugh. "Her? She doesn't know a thing. All

tempt. He spoke about me like I

hot, landing on the back of my hand. Thi

way. Miami beaches. A suite in Vegas. All

y wanted to do to each other. I was a forced audience to their po

time? On the sofa in your study... If your wi

Italian leather sofa I had picked out

into our home. Into the sa

orced my breathing to stay dead silent, my fingernails digging into the mattress until they bent backward.

re you going to tell her? I don

d in my throat.

retched on, each

. Just give me a little more

ty clause." As a top-paid star player, he explained, any negati

. Our marriage, my feelings-they were jus

d into a sob. I once thought our love was pric

tulant but yielding. "Can you com

I have to be careful. She's...

topped. Di

Aubrey asked, her

n said vaguely. "Anyway, let's not meet up f

ng pleasantries and then hung up.

ing the torture was over, when I heard his

ans

hrough my earbuds. "Yeah... about E