“Looking forward to it.”
He gives me one last grin, then turns and walks away, hands in his pockets like it’s the most casual thing in the world.
I stand there for a long moment, clutching my books like they’re the only thing keeping me upright.
Jack.
What does someone like him see in someone like me? I don’t know. But I can’t stop smiling. Not even a little.
The waiter comes over and Jack orders a gin and tonic for each of us and then orders our food. He doesn’t ask me what I want because I always get the same thing when we come here. Grotta Palazzese is the only place we go for dinner because Northrup Thomas is a major investor and Jack is a firm believer in keeping things in the family.
“You’ll never guess whose background check landed on my desk today.” Jack’s eyes search the other tables in the dimly lit dining room, as if he’s looking for someone.
“Whose?” I ask politely.
“Jason’s.”
My blood runs cold. I sip my gin and tonic because I’m not sure what else to do. “Jason?”
“You know—Jason Hartfield. Surely you haven’t forgotten him already? You said he had such a profound impact on your life—that’s what you said, right?Profound.” Jack’s tone is suddenly scathing.
My heart hammers as I consider my next words carefully. “Did I say that?”
“I believe so. Right after you told me you wanted a divorce. And rightbeforeJason told you he’d met someone and was moving in with her. That’s how the timeline went, right?” Jack’s eyes finally land on mine. His normally warm brown irises are icy enough to make me shiver.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Jack sends a tight smile my way, adjusting his tie and then replying in a clipped tone, “Of course.” The waiter arrives then, depositing another round of gin and tonics on the table. Jack swirls the alcohol in his tumbler, then takes a long sip. “I still wonder if Jason hadn’t told you he’d met someone else if you’d have gone through with it—if you’d have divorced me andstayed with him.”
I sip my drink, looking anywhere but at my husband. “I told you—we weren’t... it wasn’t an affair, Jack. Stop treating it like it was.”
“Itwasan affair though—an emotional one. You said it yourself.”
“It was only a few months—we went to lunch a few times.”
“Andtalked on the phoneandyou considered leaving me for him,” he says.
I don’t reply because there’s nothing to say. We’ve gone over this a hundred times in the year since it happened. Replying would only add fuel to his fire, and Jackalwayswins. That’s what makes him a great lawyer and a less than stellar husband, if I’m being honest. But we’re still a good fit—I’m the yin to his yang, and even though I was wrapped up in Jason for a few months, I believe now that it was only out of loneliness and that my life has worked out just the way it was meant to. I wouldn’t change a thing—even if losing Jason’s friendship for the sake of my marriage was the collateral damage.
“I’m not hiring him—if you were wondering. Surprised he had the balls to even apply for the position after your dad transferred him to the Jersey office.”
I still don’t reply. If I leave Jack to his own devices, he’ll lose steam. I’m starting to regret meeting him for a quick dinner before I head home and Jack goes back to the office for another late night.
We sit in silence for a few long minutes. The waiter arrives then with Jack’s filet and my salmon. Jack nods once and then picks up his steak knife and begins to cut.
I shift topics. “Oh—I almost forgot to tell you—I got an invitation today from a women’s group called The Society. Haveyou heard of them?”
Jack takes his first bite of filet and chews, shaking his head in silent response to my question.
“I haven’t either. I’m not even sure why I’m on their radar—maybe it’s something my dad set up. The party is in Westchester.”
Jack’s eyebrows raise. “Sounds like an interesting opportunity. When is it?”
“This weekend.”
Jack swallows. Bites. Chews.
“They do a lot of charity work around the city,” I offer.
