Dan:Black lacey underwear is dangerous. You know that Em.
Dan:Walk home carefully.
Dan:Then do whatever you want to me.
I smirk.
Then I stop.
Because there’s something else sitting under the teasing. I open our chat again.
Dan:You look happy.
Dan:I love seeing you like that.
I hover. Then hit send. No innuendo. No expectation. Just truth.
Upstairs, Ruby coughs lightly through the monitor. I glance at the screen. Still asleep. Good.
I lean forward, elbows on knees.
When we were slipping, really slipping, nights like this used to make me anxious. I’d imagine her remembering what it feltlike to be wanted without responsibility attached. To be light. To be free. And I’d sit here convincing myself I’d already lost something.
Tonight feels different. Because she’s not out escaping me. She’s out glowing. And I’m not scared she won’t come back. I know she will.
I hear the front door around midnight. Followed by the click of heels being kicked off.
I don’t move from the sofa.
I want to see her walk in.
She steps into the living room, hair messy, cheeks flushed, eyes bright. Still glowing. Still electric.
She stops when she sees me.
“Why are you awake?” she whispers.
I shrug. “Wanted to make sure my wife got home safe.”
She rolls her eyes but she’s smiling.
“How was it?” I ask.
She hesitates. Then grins slowly.
“Chaotic.”
“Did anyone hit on you?”
She narrows her eyes. “Maybe.”
My jaw tightens instinctively.
She laughs.
“I ignored them.”
Relief hits embarrassingly fast.
