Page 55 of Checkmate
“You’re not going to defend yourself?”
“Defend myself from what? Your baseless accusations? No, Alex. I am not going to say anything more than what I’ve already said, and after eight years of marriage, you either believe me or you don’t.”
His eyes glanced up at her hair, still messy and falling from her bun. His gaze lingered there for a moment before dropping to meet her eyes.
“How do you explain the hair, then? The constant texts and leaving the room to take a call?”
“Alex. I’m not playing this game. If you must ask for an explanation, it means you don’t trust me.”
“It’s just—”
“Even though I’ve never given you any reason to doubt me and have shown unwavering trust in you in very similar circumstances.”
Oh, she really was feeling petty today.
She shouldn’t have been enjoying this as much as she was, but the hypocrisy dripping from Alex’s mouth prompted a visceral reaction from her.
“Can you just explain the hair?” Alex said in a small voice. “It’s going to drive me insane otherwise.”
Erica bit her tongue to stop her from responding the way she wanted. She was very aware this was the perfect time to bring up his very real affair and drop a few home truths on him.
But he hadn’t suffered enough for her liking.
“I’ll tell you, Alex. But all it will do is make you look like a fool and tell me that our marriage isn’t as strong as I thought it was.”
“Just… Just tell me, Eri.”
Huh.
It seemed the old saying was true. There is nobody more insecure and paranoid than a cheating scumbag.
She should have felt disappointed by his lack of trust in her, but she knew it wasn’t about her. Not really. There was a time he believed he would never cheat on her, and yet the right person came along, and he got his dick wet.
It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that she could do the same.
What she did feel was an immense sadness, and a simmer of rage burning beneath the surface. How dare he punish her for his transgressions?
“I did it to myself,” she said with a sigh. “My bun was too tight, so I messed it up as soon as the door closed.”
Alex hung his head, barely able to look her in the eye. He’d seen her do the same thing a dozen times over the years. She couldn’t abide wearing her hair too tight.
It was the perfect excuse.
She scoffed, abandoning the coffee she had been looking forward to, and pushed past him.
For once, he didn’t stop her.
She grabbed her bag from the hallway and left the house, with no actual destination in mind. Slamming the door behind her, she glanced up and down the street.
Josh’s car was in the driveway.
Could she burden her brother and his new wife while they were enjoying the bliss that was the first year of marriage?
She pulled a face and walked in the opposite direction of his house.
He still didn’t know about Alex’s affair. How could she go to him without giving him the full story?
Which left Lottie.
