Chapter 3

On Saturday morning, when I finished getting dressed, Alex still hadn't come home.

We had planned to drive out of the city for lunch at eleven.

The restaurant was a little far away, and I had made the reservation weeks ago.

At 10:45, I sent him a message.

Where are you?

No reply.

At 10:52, my phone finally rang.

"Evie."

The background on his end was noisy.

I picked up my bag.

"Are you coming back to get me, or should I just go there myself?"

There was a brief pause.

"Something came up."

I stood in the entryway without moving.

"Work?"

"Yeah. Something went wrong with a project. I need to go back to the office."

"Right now?"

"I know." His voice carried a hint of apology. "I didn't want to cancel at the last minute either."

I looked at myself in the mirror.

My hair was already done.

I had chosen my earrings carefully.

I had dressed for him.

"It's fine."

"Can I make it up to you next week?"

"Sure."

I answered too quickly.

So quickly that even I noticed.

I wasn't angry.

Not really.

Alex had worked late many times over the past few years.

"I'll try to come home early tonight."

"Okay."

Just as I was about to hang up, I heard another voice on his end.

Claire.

"The car's downstairs."

Alex seemed to turn away and answer her.

Then he came back to me.

"I have to go."

"Claire is there?"

There was a short silence.

"She's working on this project too."

"Oh."

"Evie."

"What?"

"It's really just work."

I froze for a second.

Because I hadn't asked anything beyond that.

"I know."

The call ended.

I put my bag back in the closet.

At 11:15, I canceled the reservation.

That afternoon, Sophie texted me and asked if I wanted to get coffee.

I went.

When she saw me, she raised an eyebrow.

"Weren't you supposed to have plans today?"

"They got canceled."

"Who canceled them?"

I didn't answer.

She already knew.

"Again?"

I looked down at my coffee.

"Work."

The waiter came over, and I ordered a drink.

Sophie waited until he walked away before speaking.

"Was Claire there too?"

I looked up.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Because when you said 'work', you didn't look like you were thinking about work."

I lowered my eyes and stirred my coffee.

"She was there."

"Again?"

"She's his secretary. They work together. It makes sense."

Sophie didn't respond.

Instead, I found myself explaining Alex.

"His company really has been busy lately. Claire handles his schedule and several important projects. It's normal for her to be there."

"I didn't say it wasn't normal."

Sophie looked at me.

"Why are you defending it?"

I didn't answer.

She leaned back in her chair.

"Do you think something is going on between them?"

"I don't know."

It was the first time I had ever said those words.

Before, if anyone had asked me that question, I would have immediately said no.

Without hesitation.

But now, I said: I don't know.

"Do you have proof?" Sophie asked.

"No."

"Has he lied to you?"

I thought about it.

"Not that I know of."

"Then what are you worried about?"

I looked out the window.

"She's always around Alex."

I paused.

"Maybe I'm just being too sensitive lately."

Sophie didn't comfort me.

She only asked:

"When was the last time you two spent an entire day together?"

I opened my mouth.

The answer should have been easy.

We lived in the same house.

We slept in the same bed every night.

But I sat there thinking for a long time.

Last week didn't count.

Alex had been traveling.

The week before that...

I kept going backward.

Sophie didn't rush me.

My coffee slowly went cold.

Finally, I looked at her.

"I can't remember."