Page 215 of Homewrecker

“You wouldn’t tell him at dinner because you said, and I quote, ‘If that motherfucker gets up and leaves me at a table, I’m going to jail.’”

I pointed at her. “I feel like you’re attacking me.”

“I am reminding you of your emotional state.”

“Same difference.”

She smiled. “But you told him.”

I nodded.

“Everything?”

“Everything.”

“The parts that make Caleb look bad?”

“Yes.”

“The parts that make you look bad?”

I looked at her. “Yes.”

“And?”

I shrugged. “Surprisingly, he stayed.”

Sydnee waited and I hated when she did that.

“He stayed,” I repeated.

“And?”

“And what?”

“How did that make you feel?”

“Good.”

She waited.

“Happy.”

Still waiting.

“Relieved.”

She still said nothing.

“Lady, what word are you looking for?”

She laughed. “I’m not looking for one.”

“Well, your face is.”

“What else did you feel?”

I looked down at my hands. “Scared.”