“Babe, what’s going on?”
I stare at the ceiling. The room is dark except for the soft glow of my phone.
Rhys is in the guest room. I can hear the faint creak of the floorboards when he moves, a reminder that he’s both close and far away at the same time.
“I mean,” I try to explain, “you’ve known him as long as you’ve known me.”
“I’ve known you longer,” she drawls.
“True.” Iris and I’ve known each other since elementary school, while Rhys and I met in high school.
“And I imprinted on you, like a baby duck,” She declares. “Now tell me why you’re whispering like you’re calling from a hostage situation.”
“I have no idea.” I rub my forehead. “He’s…he’s in the guest room.”
“Oh, hell.” Sheets rustle on her end. She’s sitting up. She knows we’re having problems, but not the kind where we sleep apart.
“What happened?”
“I…it’s Tory…I think…I don’t know.”
“Did he marry Tory in secret and forget to tell you?”
“Can you not?” I mutter, even though the joke makes me smile…a little.
“Got it. Not in the mood for my excellent sense of humor.”
I take a breath. Then another. “I went to the hospital today.”
“Why?”
“He forgot his bandana.” I take deep breaths as one does before jumping off a diving board. “You know, the blue one I gave him before his first big surgery.”
“Yeah.” Her voice softens. “You still take care of that?”
“Apparently.”Like a good little wife. “I drove over to drop it off. His office door was open.”
I stop. The memory surges up hard and fast.
The sound of my name.
Tory’s voice.
Her casual insults wrapped in concern.
“What did you hear?”
I tell her. Every word. It’s cathartic even if it is painful to expose myself.
Iris doesn’t interrupt. She just breathes with me.
“By the time I got to work. I was shaking so hard I couldn’t take my coat off. I just…sat there crying.”
“I’m so sorry, Jayne,” she whispers. “That’s brutal.”
“It was.” My throat burns. “And then tonight, I told him that I heard him. He apologized, but it was as if he didn’t understand why it hurt so much. He said he was just venting.”
“Well,” she hesitates as if making sure she’s careful about what she says, “he was.”
