10
April 2019
As the jet cut through the sky, Aida had quick calls with both Trista and Yumi before knocking back a sleeping pill. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—spend the night replaying the image of Graham kissing another woman. It felt like her head had barely grazed the pillow when she was awakened by the gentle tap of the flight attendant on the plane’s bedroom door.
Rubbing her eyes, she moved to the window. Boston’s skyline unfurled beneath her, a city waking up to greet her. She had considered having Yumi accompany her to confront Graham, but as she stepped off the plane and onto Boston soil, she texted her friend a change of plans. She was going solo. Four years with Graham weighed on her mind. Despite his betrayal, he deserved to face her in what was bound to be an awkward, uncomfortable moment.
She let herself in the front door. Music was playing, louder than she normally would have set it. Beneath it, she could make out voices drifting from the kitchen—Graham’s, and a woman’s.
Erin.
Fuck.Aida couldn’t believe that after confronting him yesterday, Graham would so callously continue forward, as though calling the wedding off meant nothing. It wasn’t even 8:00 a.m. Clearly, Erin had spent the night.
She stood in the entry for a moment, her eyes closed, willing her breath to calm. At least now she knew that she had made theright decision. This thought bolstered her and, steeling herself, she went to the kitchen.
When she reached the doorway, her heart immediately tightened at the sight before her: Erin—whom she had once believed was a dear friend—perched on the bar, the very embodiment of allure with sun-kissed skin and auburn hair flowing past her shoulders. The oversize denim shirt she wore, one of Graham’s, was lazily buttoned, teasingly hinting at the curve of her breasts beneath. Seeing Graham, shirtless and in boxer shorts by the stove, spatula in hand with eggs sizzling, deepened the stabbing sensation in Aida’s chest.
“Making me breakfast, I see,” Aida said, her voice laced with a toxic sweetness that even she found chilling.
Graham looked up, eyes widening in alarm, spatula frozen midair. Erin shifted her gaze, meeting Aida’s eyes in a fleeting moment before darting away. A quick flush colored her cheeks as she self-consciously tugged at the shirt.
“Aida... what are you doing here?” Graham stammered.
“Oh, I think I’m the one who should be askingyouwhat you are doing here,” she said, leaning against the wall, every ounce of her trying to exude control despite the tempest inside. “I’d love to know what this story is.” She gestured vaguely at Erin.
Erin slid off the bar, clutching Graham’s shirt around her. “I’m going to go—”
“Don’t mind me,” Aida interrupted her. “We’re old pals, aren’t we, Erin? No need for formalities. Remember all the pinkie swears we made to be friends forever? Of course you do. But really, I have to admit, while it might have made sense if you wanted to borrow some clothes, I’m not so sure our friendship will survive you borrowing my fiancé.”
Erin paused, her eyes avoiding Aida’s, her fingers twisting the shirt’s fabric as if seeking something solid to hold on to. “Aida, this isn’t how I wanted you to find out. This is... It’s complicated.”
Graham put the spatula down, his gaze falling to the floor. “Aida, I can explain—”
“Explain? Oh wait, I’m the storyteller. I can do the explaining. You’re standing here, cooking breakfast for someone who is not me—for my oldest friend—who you just spent the night fucking, in the home we live in together. Do I have that right?”
The room fell silent, the eggs on the stove sizzling filling the void.
“See, the funny thing is,” Aida continued, “I had really hoped, perhaps, maybe, you would have a good explanation for a one-time lapse. But thank you, Graham, for clarifying where I stand. No, not thank you. Fuck you both for that clarification. Now, please, feel free to continue. I’ll be doing a bit of packing before the movers arrive. I shouldn’t be in your way long.”
Not waiting for a response, she left the kitchen and went to the bedroom, where the sheets were a tumbled mess and Erin’s clothes were strewn all over the floor. She held back the flood of emotions threatening to break through and began to organize her jewelry and clothes to make it easier when the movers arrived.
Graham appeared at the door. He swept past her, picked up Erin’s belongings, and left without saying anything. A few minutes later, Aida heard the front door open and shut, followed by Graham making his way up the stairs once more.
“Don’t do this, Aida,” Graham said from the doorway. He had donned the shirt Erin had been wearing.
She backed away. “Don’t do what?”
“Don’t leave me,” he said.
She couldn’t believe he was even attempting to keep her there. “Why on earth would I stay?”
“Because I love...”
She interrupted him with a rueful laugh. “Oh, that’s rich.” She picked up the rumpled sheet and flung it into the air across the bed. “Was this a declaration of your undying love?”
“You were the one that left me,” he blurted out. “We’re supposed to be getting married in a couple months and you jet off to Italy...”
Aida stared at him. “I went there to helppay for the wedding! You encouraged me! My god. I was trying to hold my own in this relationship, to make sure I could chip in after I lost my job. I sure as hell didn’t consider sleeping with someone else.”
