I shoot her a look. Because yes. Yes, I am.
“And,” Tori adds quietly, “there’s the bad thoughts.”
“What bad thoughts?” I ask.
She shifts uncomfortably, eyes darting away.
Jackie steps in. “I think Tori means… you know.” She widens her eyes meaningfully.
“Oh.” I blink. “Well… I don’t really have those thoughts.” I shrug. “Why would I?”
Tori frowns. “He’s in New York. It’s been a long time. You’re not worried that he’ll… you know.”
She doesn’t finish the sentence.
I actually have to think about it.
Because the truth surprises me.
All this time, every delay, every pause, every time I panicked, it never once crossed my mind that Patrick would find that somewhere else.
Not once.
Because he never made me feel like that was a risk. Never pressured me, or guilted me. If anything, he’s been more patient than ever.
I shake my head in answer to Tori’s question. “No.”
“Must feel nice,” Tori says, and there’s bitterness in it this time.
I glance at Trish, brows lifting. She immediately raises a hand. “Tori… are you okay?”
Tori lets out a sharp, humorless laugh. “He’s at it again.”
No one asks who.
“Erin,” she clarifies anyway, like there was ever any doubt.
She makes a frustrated sound, scrubbing at her face. “All of you have husbands who actually give a damn. They screwed up, sure, but they fought for you. Theychoseyou.”
Her voice cracks.
“My husband?” she laughs, hollow. “He told me if I don’t like it, I can leave. Knowing full well I won’t.”
“Why?” I ask softly.
Trish winces. “Lorelie…”
“I’m sorry,” I say immediately, but Tori shakes her head.
“My family loves him,” she says. “If I leave… I lose them too.”
Kate’s voice is sharp. “Even if he’s cheating?”
Tori wipes at her cheek, tears finally spilling over. “He could beat the crap out of me,” she whispers, “and they’d still take his side.”
I reach across the circle and take Tori’s hand.
“You deserve better,” I say, quietly but firmly. “And you don’t have to decide anything today. But you deserve better.”
