Shelto

e buried in his hands. His shoulders were shaking with what looked like

as so worried. Kaliyah saved your career. I felt like I

planation, the self-flagellation. It was all there. I simp

voice a dry rasp. "You told our

Locker room talk. You know how those guys ar

the question hanging like a gu

ave so little faith in my love for you?" He framed it as an accusation, a wound I had inflicted upon

of professional kindness I had received and twisted it into a justificati

ved his phone into my hand. "Look. Look

calendar was filled with reminders: "Buy Haven's favorite flowers," "Pick up Haven's prenatal vitamins," "Date

ort he put into the deception was almos

ve you,"

und me like a repentant child, burying his face in my hair. "Thank you," he

ing cold. It was no longer about lov

y side, catering to my every whim. Then, one afternoon, he said he had to step

e every night after you fall asleep. He says being with you feels like a

s turning white. It was all a game. A sick, twisted

aid, my voice low and even. "He'll get tired of y

d, her eyes flashing with hatred. "You're a washed-up,

carefully constructed calm. I stood

ard, she did something extraordinary. She slapped hers

ed, collapsing to the floor.

of trying to kill her baby, of being a jealous monst

He stood in the doorway, his gaze flickering between m

ecision in his eyes. A flash of some

we can't see each other anymore. It's for the best." H

ing to leave," she sobbed, "but I felt dizzy." She swayed dramatic

didn't reach for me, his injured, pregnant wife. He reached for her. He caught

forward. His body, shiel

k linoleum floor, but found none. I fell backward, my head connecting

last thing I saw was Andre's face, his eyes wide with horror, as he

everything

or the rhythmic beep of a heart monitor. I almost la

as no going back to the comfortable lies. He was not the m

surprisingly steady. I dialed the n

said when

s everyth

s ice. "That offer you made me back in college... the one wher

silence on the oth

offer st