Page 63 of Checkmate
She didn’t know what to do or say, but somehow, she knew Alex was about to blame her for this.
Unacceptable.
“Wait!”
Marcus turned back to her, grabbing his pack of cigs. “What is it, Sophie?”
“I just… um…” She cleared her throat, zoning in on what Alex was saying. “Did you say you were going to a hotel?”
“Yeah, don’t bother waiting up. I’m not exactly happy with you, either.”
“You’re choosing her over me?”
Marcus stared at her for a moment, something unreadable in his eyes. “I’m choosing maturity over childish games, nothing more. Nothing less. Believe what you want to believe.”
Gathering the last of their things, Marcus ushered Erica to the door, neither of them sparing a glance at Sophie, who still couldn’t find it in herself to move.
The sound of the lock, as it clicked into place, echoed around the now-empty flat as Sophie tried to process what had happened.
“Hey! Sophie, can you hear me? Talk to me, please? Sophie?!”
“I’ll call you back.”
Ending the call, Sophie continued staring at the door as though she could force Marcus to come back and explain himself.
When she had arrived home, she had convinced herself that there was no way Marcus would ever cheat on her.
Now, after choosing another woman and leaving her on her own for the first time since they moved in together, Sophie had her first taste of doubt.
Why had he left with Erica, and more importantly, why did it bother her as much as it did?
Chapter 16
Alex
Erica hadn’t been home in three days.
Three long fucking days where Alex had been going out of his mind with worry.
She’d been to the house while he was at the office, and her phone charger and overnight bag were missing from her things. It was the only reason he knew she was okay.
It wasn’t enough that she had run to that man after their argument. Now she had shacked up with him in a hotel room.
If she wasn’t cheating before, he bet she was now.
“Did Marcus come home last night?” He asked Sophie, already knowing the answer.
“No,” she said with a sigh. “Alex, I’m doing my best work here.”
Alex forced himself to focus on her above him, grinding against his dick as she sat in his lap. He was hard but in no mood for sex.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I just don’t understand why she won’t come home.”
Sophie sighed again, moving off his lap and pulling her blouse back on. “Because you accused her of shagging my husband!”
“Tell me they’re not,” he challenged.
“I don’t think they are.” Sophie shrugged, focusing on her buttons. “And I know what you’re going to say. I’m being naïve. But have you once considered that you and I are the villains in this story, and perhaps Erica and Marcus are decent people who won’t fucking cheat?”
