The Home-Wrecker Was Her Lover

felt surreal. Everything was the same, yet different. I took a cab straigh

t the familiar oak door. I pull

t are yo

was almost

me. Exhaust

. This was perfe

message, my finger

. I' m on the

red, then disappeared. Then they appeared agai

ou se

en reply, my phon

't filled with joy or surprise. It was sharp, an

own excitement deflating. "I... my flig

e. "I... I can't

st said you

y way home. I'm stuck in traffic." The lie was c

d my key in the lock. It turned. The doo

ite sheets. There were no photos on the mantel, no books on the shelves, no life. I

egan to creep

replaced with a gnawing unease. I decided to post something, to make

to be

Stone, the CEO of a rival sports agency. We weren't close, more like di

in town? Do

. Of course she knew

knows, I t

ly came a s

advice. You might want to pay more

I could ask him what he me

face. She ran to me and threw her arms around m

amiliar. For a moment, the unease vanished, repl

oo," I whispere

he said, pulling away and grabbing my su

ate for a piece of our shared past. "The one w

too long. "Sure," she s

ost felt normal. But as we ate, I overheard t

avis?" one whispered. "She's e

riend is. You know, Mark Jensen. They are so cute toge

That's her husband, you idiots. We've been married for seven years. But I didn't. I just took a bite

drive toward our new pl

iding my eyes. "Just some last-minute things. I got you a room a

, but I was tired, jet-lagged, and emoti

ilding. It was beautiful, fully furnished with expensive, minimalist furnit

she said with

nt hiking on our old trails, we cooked dinners, we fell back into a physical intimacy

e was getting dresse

r wedding ri

e said, waving a dismissive hand. "With all the travel and clie

lie. Plausible enou

chmaker. A companion piece to the one she had given me on our wedding day. I got an email saying it had been shipped and w