“You bastard. I knew things weren’t great between us, but I never thought you’d do this.”
Harrison throws a hand up, fisting it in the air.
“Not great? Things have been horrible! We haven’t had sex in over six months.”
Her jaw shifts back and forth and she stares at him. I hurt for her. Neither of them speaks. All the married men from the club used the same weak excuse. Their wives wouldn’t have sex with them. I think they weren’t worthy of their wives love, any more than Harrison i
s deserving of Liv’s.
Liv shifts on her feet, and then speaks. “Whatever I did doesn’t make this okay!”
“I’m sorry, baby. It was just sex.”
God, he’s a classic cheating idiot. Is there a handbook they all read from that teaches cheaters to say, ‘It was just sex,’ or ‘I was drunk.’? My personal favorite is, ‘I thought she was you.’
“Who is she?” Liv demands, her words strained.
“No one.”
“Tell me, or Maria will.”
“A girl from the club we took Brady to.”
“A hooker? You paid someone to cheat on me?”
“Liv, I … she made me feel good, like I mattered. I haven’t felt wanted in a really long time.”
Unbelievable! Classic cheater line number seven! I hope Liv doesn’t fall for it.
“That’s a lame excuse,” she says, and I want to pat her on the back, but I refrain. “All you had to do was leave.”
“I couldn’t. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“Well, now, you have. Have fun with your whore. I’m sure she’ll make you feel better.” She looks at me as she walks to the car. “Maria, can you take me home?”
On the ride back to Brady’s, Liv turns to me, tears raining down her cheeks. “I’m such a moron. I should have known something was up. The last week he hasn’t touched me at all.”
“No, you’re not a moron. He is.”
“It’s funny, well, not really, but Harrison is the mature, responsible one. It’s always the ones no one ever believes would cheat, who cheat. Did you ever notice that?” I don’t answer, assuming she only needs to vent, and doesn’t expect an answer. For several miles she’s quiet, other than the occasional sob. “I’m sorry for what I said about you.”
“Don’t. It isn’t necessary. I see why you thought it was me, and truthfully, I would have reacted the same way, only I probably would have slapped you before I freaked out on you.”
She laughs and smacks her knee. “I thought about it, but I figured you’d kick my ass.”
I laugh inwardly. If Liv only knew me back when. “There was a time I might have, but I’ve mellowed out.”
Her lips twist. “It was Tug, huh?”
“What?”
“It was Tug who jacked up Harrison’s car.”
I nod. “He found Harrison at Del’s when he went to pick up Javier. She was my sitter. He told Harrison to tell you. When he couldn’t find Harrison today, he came looking, and Harrison refused to come to the door.”
Her fingers nervously play with the fabric of her sarong. “That’s what he was going to tell me when we were leaving?”
“I think so.”