Dylan: Was itscary?
Callie: More scared there was a guy with a gun on the street. Lucky he didn’t hurt more people. What are you doingup?
Dylan: Ben was crying, and I saw your light on. What are youdoing?
Callie: Staring at an asshole snoring in my bed. How’s yourwife?
It took him fifteen minutes torespond.
Dylan: I don’tknow.
Shit. I was abitch.
Callie: Are youokay?
Dylan:No.
Callie: What’s notokay?
Dylan: You’rebusy.
Callie: I’m not actually. I’mbored.
Dylan: I thought you had a naked man in yourbed?
Callie: Yeah, lucky me. I’m still bored. What’s notokay?
Dylan: I don’t want this for thekids.
Callie: What are you thinking ofdoing?
Dylan: I don’t know. Guilt is killingme.
Callie: Guilt forwhat?
Dylan: I shouldn’t want to leave her when she’s down. She’s sick. If she had cancer, I wouldn't justleave.
Leave her?That’s not like him. I hit the call button and put the phone to myear.
“Hello?” His voice was velvet, deep. I shivered and pulled the blankets up to mychin.
“It’s called love, Dylan. Youloveher. Remember, the person before the poison. She’ll find her wayback—”
“It’s not,” he said roughly. “It’s not about love anymore. She’s not the person I married. It’s an obligation now. God forgive me, but it’strue.”
“You don’t need forgiveness, Dylan. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re a good man,” I saidsoftly.
“No, I'm not,” he argued in ahuff.
“Stop. You’re doing everything you can to keep your family together. You are a good father and a goodhusband.”
“But all I’m thinking about is some other guy in your bed right now, and climbing up those stairs and hurting him.” He sighed heavily into the phone. “I’m sosorry.”
“Dylan,” I whispered. I didn’t know what else tosay.
“I know. I know it’s wrong, okay? You just made things feel different. You made me see what a healthy family would look like. You made me want more. Damn it, Callie. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be saying this toyou.”
Then the phone beepedoff.
