“Your…” What’s the best way to put this? “Er, philandering.”
His mouth pops open. “What? No!”
I eye him doubtfully.
“I’m serious, Harriet. I don’t know what kind of idea you have of who I am, but you are the only person I’ve slept with since Dena and I got together in our twenties. When I met you on the plane, my lawyer had just phoned to tell me she’d signed the divorce papers.”
I study him for a moment, unsure if I should believe him. People will say anything to get themselves out of a bad situation, and this one is quite the pickle. But as I take in his slumped shoulders and tortured expression, I can’t help but think he might be telling the truth. And when I cast my mind back to the man I met on the plane—the man who didn’t have a condom, who told me things were complicated before he ever knew he’d see me again… Hell, the fact that he left a note at all…
Everything in me wants to believe him.
“Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
He gives a hollow, humorless laugh. “I wanted to, believe me. But we haven’t told my family.”
“What? Why not?”
He glances down the street to double check we’re still alone. “Dena moved out five months ago, on a trial basis, but we both knew that it was over right away. We want different things. I was going to tell Mike, but then he asked me to be his best man and I didn’t want to be a bummer when he was so excited about his wedding. And then as the wedding got closer it just got more awkward.”
In spite of everything, sympathy tugs at me. “I’m sure he would understand.”
“Maybe.” Luke shrugs. “It’s not just that. You don’t know how difficult our dad is. When Mike got divorced, Dad was so disappointed and it blew up into this big thing. And then with my job—” He glances at me, and I can tell he’s deciding how much more he wants to share. “Anyway. Dad willnotbe happy when I tell him, and I didn’t want to cause drama by fighting with Dad at the wedding, so it just seemed easier to keep playing happy families until after they were married.”
“But aren’t they wondering where Dena is? Why she didn’t come to dinner tonight?”
“I told them she’s out of town until the wedding,” he mumbles. “That she’s at some insurance conference for work.”
I let my breath out in a long stream, trying to make sense of the situation. “If Alex and Michael believe you’re married, and you’re not going to tell anyone, why have you told me? Why not just let me keep believing it too?”
“Because I can’t stand the thought of you hating me for the next two weeks. And I want you to know…” His eyes return to mine from under low brows. “I’m not some cheating asshole.”
“So youaredivorced?”
“It’s being finalized over the coming weeks.”
I frown. “But it’s not final yet.” It’s a statement, not a question, but he nods in confirmation anyway. He offers me a hopeful smile, but I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter what papers you’ve signed, or what isgoingto happen. The fact is, you’re still married. You were on the plane.”
“Okay, yes, but that’s just a technicality—”
“No, Luke.” Irritation bolts through me. “If I’d known you were still legally married, then I wouldn’t have slept with you. But you didn’t give me that information, and now I’ve done something I can’t undo.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again! And it’s not like you asked if—”
“Don’tput this on me,” I snap. I rub my temples, picturing the coming weeks where Luke and I have to spend time together, pretending nothing has happened between us. Right now, all I want to do is get on a plane and go home.
But… I can’t do that to Alex.
God, I’d give anything for a time machine so I could go back and take a different flight, so I could tell Steph thatno, I won’t pretend to be some outgoing, sexed-up version of myself, thank you very much.
Don’t blame Harriet 2.0, thank her.
Steph’s words come back to me, and as much as I want to push them away, I realize she has a point. Not because of the sex, or because of meeting Luke, but because of the person I’m becoming. I’m standing up to someone when I’d usually let myself be pushed around, and I’m going to need to do that soon with Mel.
Besides, I like this new side of myself. I like feeling prettier in my clothes, being a little more confident and bold. I’m not going to let some guy ruin that.
I force my gaze back to Luke. “Look, I’m sorry about what’s happening with Dena, but until everything is finalized, you’re still married. We should never have done what we did, and we can’t let it interfere with anything.”
He sighs.
