He rolled his eyes and sighed, then launched into the short monologue. When he repeated the last sentence, rather than winking at the camera, he turned to Emily instead. “We’ve worked up a sweat here today, but the shower will have to wait until tonight.” He waggled his brows, like a cheesy villain standing over the heroine he’d just tied to the train tracks.
Despite her ornery mood, Emily cackled and snorted. All her pent-up nerves exploded from her in raucous laughter. The noise succeeded in making Michael burst out as well. To egg him on, Emily waggled her own brows. Michael put a hand over his mouth but his shoulders moved with silent laughter. Lacey didn’t seem to mind. She rotated her finger in the air, a signal to Louie to keep filming. Once Emily and Michael were weeping in mirth, Lacey finally called an end to the shot.
“That was the most genuine moment you’ve had on camera in ages, Michael,” said Lacey. “Weird, but genuine.”
The contractor shook his head as the redness disappeared from his cheeks. “I haven’t laughed like that in ages.”
Emily wiped her eyes. “You have no idea how much I needed that. You’d make a great vaudeville actor.”
“I won’t give up my day job.” He bit his bottom lip. “I’d better go check on Eli. I hope you enjoyed the demolition.”
“I did. Thank you.”
They stared at each other for a moment and then Michael turned and headed toward where Eli was gathering up his things.
Emily glanced at Trent.
Her fiancé had already gone.
***
“Another cup?” the coffee shop waitress asked.
“No, thanks.”
The waitress walked back to the counter and Emily turned her attention toward her cup, stirring it again, even though the coffee and the cream had blended long ago. She inhaled the scent of its Irish Crème flavor, wishing it was the genuine article. She could use something stronger right now, although she doubted a shot of Bailey’s would fix her problems.
After the day’s shoot, Emily hadn’t been able to face her empty condo, and so she’d wandered toward the coffee shop down the road. She’d grabbed a seat near the window, away from the other patrons, a loud group of women comparing nail jobs. In her corner, she huddled, holding her cooling mug and staring out the window.
Trent had left in a huff after the sledgehammer incident, once again choosing not to share his whereabouts. No doubt he wanted to make her feel she’d done something wrong. That was his forte, letting her stew in her own juices.
Emily refused to do it anymore.
Trent should have apologized to Eli, plain and simple. Would it have killed him? She was tired of making excuses for his comments and childish behavior.
She was tired of him, period. Even without having discussed his conversation with Michael, Emily knew she was at a point of no return. She didn’t even care where he was or who he’d been with all those times he was supposed to be with her.
She just wanted out now.
Unfortunately, in order to end their engagement, she needed to be able to pin him down for five minutes.
Shouldn’t I give him a chance to come clean first?
After all, Trent had lost his job and he believed life sucked right now. Still, she’d been going out of her way to support him through the ordeal, both emotionally and financially. What more did he want her to do?
Perhaps he was receiving emotional comfort elsewhere.
The thought Trent might be cheating had haunted the periphery of her consciousness for some time but she hadn’t wanted to admit it. Now she had no choice. The man was distant, distracted, and had mysterious phone calls when she wasn’t looking. He treated her with disinterest at the best of times and downright belligerence at the worst of times.
Although he hadn’t been willing to respond to many of her texts lately, she took a chance he would answer this final one.
Are you cheating on me?
Emily put her cell phone down on the café table and watched the display screen for a reply, but there was none.
The question should have caused Trent to reply quickly, giving her assurances he wasn’t betraying her. Such a message, left ignored, spoke volumes. She knew for a fact even though Trent didn’t respond to all text messages, he always glanced at the screen to see them.
She could almost hear Michael’s thoughts on the matter.
