He was just another married man whom I’d attracted, in some sense, or at least a man who still wanted to be married. Just not to me.
10
“WHERE COULD WE HAVE GONE FURTHER?”
Paul calledme early the next morning.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “Yesterday was—I’m so sorry about that. It must have been…I must have seemed really off. It wasn’t…I’m not trying to get back together with her. I was just shocked.”
“No. Paul, I mean, if you do want to get back together with her?—”
He cut me off firmly. “I don’t. I really don’t.”
I said nothing, doubting him, trying not to doubt him.
“Lisette wants to do something today with both of us,” Paul said. “Since the weather is so bad, would you be up for going to see a movie?”
“Only a really bad one.”
Paul, Lisette and I went to see a ridiculous Jason Statham movie together and sat in the back row where we could make each other laugh with side remarks all the way through, like we were the naughty rebels in a school assembly. It felt like we were team again, and I was glad that the fact that Paul and I were dating hadn’t changed that. Then I realized that I hadn’t mentioned it to Lisette yet. Had Paul? Should I have doneso? Was I instinctively protecting Paul, in case he might want plausible deniability to get back together with his wife?
It was getting dark when we pulled up to her new house.
“Back to my basement lair,” she said.
“You do have other options,” Paul replied quietly.
“Nah. I need the history of renting to get a proper lease. Though I think by the time I sign a lease on my own place, I want to formally change my name, so my ex can’t find me. And I’ve picked a name out.”
She paused dramatically.
“Celine Dion!” Lisette grinned at us from Paul’s back seat.
“Excellent idea,” I agreed. I knew this was one of her comedic bits.
“I could be the other Celine Dion,” she went on. “But that way if my ex googled my name, he’ll just find her show dates in Las Vegas."
We theorized about other names Lisette could choose: Alanis Morissette. Angelina Jolie. Dame Judy Dench.
Lisette paused. “Seriously, though. There’s something else I need to say. It’s important, and it has to do with my love life.” There was a long moment.
“Yes?” I gently prompted.
“I’m not sure this is the right time, but there’s something I need to tell you. Or more specifically, something I need to tell Paul.” We both waited, watching her struggle to meet our eyes. “I’m in love with you, Paul.” I froze at her words. “I’m sorry to do this in front of Abby, but I just needed you to finally know.”
Paul stared at her for a long moment, then something in his expression shifted. “Oh, fuck off, Liz.”
She broke into a wide grin. “You guys hooked up, right?”
I looked between them. “Oh my God!” I laughed. “I wasn’t sure whether Paul told you, and by the time we picked you up, I realized we hadn’t discussed it! I’m sorry!”
“So which one finally caved and jumped on top of the other one?”
Paul sighed. “I asked her out.”
“I’m very excited about this. I want little babies who look like both of you, but more like Abby because Paul is about forty percent gremlin. This is all my doing, you know that, right? Why didn’t you tell me?”
We both looked sheepish. “I meant to, honestly,” I said.
