Michael looks between us in confusion.
“Through Cat,” I mumble.
“Oh. Yes, of course.”
“And she’s been writing for our website,” Mel adds.
“Oh.” Michael glances at me, loosening his arm as realization breaks across his face. “Right.”
“Yes,” Mel continues as if I’m not even here, “Alex writes about howfabulousit is to be single.” She gives me a pointed look, and beside me I hear Michael sigh.
“Uh, I’ll let you guys talk.” I yank the door open and slip out into the hallway, and almost immediately they start arguing. I know I shouldn’t, but I hover by the door, anxious to hear what they say.
“Jesus, Michael. This is so fucking typical of you.”
“What took you so long to get here, anyway?”
“I had a date. I came as quickly as I could.”
There’s silence for a beat, then Mel speaks again.
“I can’t believe you’re datingAlex, of all people.”
“Don’t talk about her. That’s none of your business.”
“You know she’s like half your age, don’t you? That’s pretty fucking sad, Mike.”
“She’s not half my age, Melanie.”
“Well, she’s certainly not in her forties. But this is just the sort of pathetic mid-life crisis I’d expect from you.”
There’s muttering and I hear a chair scrape back and footsteps heading for the door. I leap across the hall and lean against the wall, inspecting my nails as if I’d been there the whole time.
Michael appears, his face in a scowl. I’m immediately reminded of the man I met—the grumpy man in the suit who was always frowning, the man who was in court battling to be able to see his son. Now I know why he becomes that man. The things she just said to him, the way she spoke to him… My heart aches for him.
His expression softens when he sees me, and he takes my hand. “I’m going to get some coffee. Want to come?”
I nod and we wander down the corridor in silence, coming to a vending machine by the elevators.
Michael turns to me, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry about Melanie. She’s so difficult. But I guess you already know that.”
I watch the coffee machine, saying nothing. She hasn’t been difficult with me. In fact, she’s been lovely to me, and I know she’s one of Cat’s closest friends. But it was like meeting a different person back there.
Michael hands me a coffee and we head back down the corridor, finding some chairs. I try to sip the hot, bitter liquid, but my head is still spinning.Melis Michael’s ex. Stunningly beautiful Mel. Despite everything, I find myself wondering how it’s possible he could actually likemeafter being with her.
And then another thought occurs to me, one that pushes everything else out of my mind: Mel said her ex cheated on her—that she found him in bed with another woman.
I inhale sharply as realization hits me square in the chest. Michael cheated on Mel and that’s why their marriage ended.
Fuck.
38
Isteal a glance at Michael. He’s leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees. His face is tired and drawn, his hair is disheveled. He’s cradling his coffee in his hands, gazing down at it. In this moment he looks defeated, even a little broken, and there’s a tug in my heart. This kind, sweet man, cheated on his wife and destroyed his family? Is that even possible?
No. I refuse to believe he would do that. I may have only known him a few months, but I feel like Iknowhim—the real him. And the Michael I know would never do that.
I stare down into my coffee cup, my mind in free fall. Why would Mel have lied, though? She didn’t even know that I knew him when she told me that. And he was weird at Christmas, when I asked him about his marriage. And—oh God—I just remembered Cat, on New Year’s Eve, when Michael arrived and she got so hostile…
