Page 92 of Checkmate
“You haven’t, he has.” She nodded in Alex’s direction. “Look at him, just acting completely normal. It makes me so angry.”
“Believe me, I get it,” Erica replied. “Today, most of all, I get it.”
Erica watched as Alex and Bill exchanged a joke or two before glancing at the clock. Dinner would be another hour or so, which meant…
“Marcus will be waking her up any minute now.” Her stomach knotted at the thought, her heart beating erratically.
“No going back now,” Lottie replied, her narrowed eyes glued to Alex.
“I don’t think there was ever any going back.”
Snuggled up with her sister, Erica watched the festivities, although she had seen them unfold a dozen times before.
Josh had joined Bill and Alex, the three men ribbing one another while they drank far too much, far too early. Her mother sat next to Liv, Baxter resting his head on her knee while she absentmindedly stroked his ear.
A collection of familiar Christmas tunes played through the TV, the higher volume causing everyone to speak that little bit louder.
The unopened presents still sat under the tree in the adjoining room, waiting until dinner was over before they exchanged gifts.
Debra’s rule.
She said they’d be a lot less likely to voice their displeasure with a shitty gift if their stomachs were full, and so far, her logic had proven sound.
Up and down the country, in every loving household, was a familiar sight. Christmas brought people together in a way that nothing else could, and it was hard to believe that Alex wouldn’t be there to celebrate with them next year.
“You’re fine,” Lottie said firmly as Erica sniffled. “Don’t let him win.”
“You’re right,” she whispered back. “I just want to get this over with so he can stop acting as though he gives a shit about any of us.”
The scene before her shifted as her mother went to check on the dinner. Alex and Josh rejoined Liv as their father excused himself to let the dog out.
“I think it’s time we joined the conversation,” Lottie said. “Otherwise we’ll be sitting here clock watching.
Erica nodded her agreement, helping Lottie to her feet as they joined the group.
“I think some men just don’t realise what they’ve got,” she heard Josh say as they approached. “You wouldn’t catch me sleeping with another woman.”
“What’s this about?” She asked, finally grabbing a drink.
“The couple on the corner finally broke up,” Liv said. “He got caught cheating when his bit on the side showed up with a sonogram.”
“Goodness,” Erica said, a sinking feeling in her stomach. She glanced at Lottie, who tightened her grip on her mug.
Was this the future she had to look forward to? The neighbours gossiping about her broken marriage? Alex moved his arm around her waist, pulling her away from Lottie and kissing the top of her head.
“The guy is a fool,” he said. “It’s one thing to cheat, but to get her pregnant too? Stupidity.”
“Oh, yeah?” Josh said, an amused smirk on his face. “So you wouldn’t knock up your affair partner?” Erica caught herself before she flinched.
Did Josh know?
No. Absolutely not. He wouldn’t keep that from her. Just a stupid joke. Lottie stared at Josh for a moment before shaking her head and relaxing.
Right. Josh wouldn’t do that.
“I wouldn’t cheat.” Alex sounded so sure in his words, so confident. Anyone would believe him. Hell, even she wanted to. “But not everyone has a wife like mine.”
She forced herself to smile up at him, resting her head against his shoulder. She felt sick. This entire thing was sick. “Anyone who cheats is the Scum of the Earth, if you ask me.”
