“What’s wrong?” She rubs my arm.
I stare at her hand, at the red nails that were digging into Yulian’s arms and back, holding on for dear life, and then at her face. “I think you know exactly what’s wrong.”
“What do you mean…?”
I pull out my phone, make sure the sound is off, and show her the video. At first, she frowns, then her eyes widen, and she tries to snatch it away, probably to hide it? Delete it?
I don’t know, and I couldn’t care less, so I slide it back into my pocket and keep my hand there, in my pocket. “Was he the first guy you cheated on me with?”
“It’s not what you think, it’s?—”
“Was he the first?” I cut her off, my voice unchanging, too calm, too detached. It should be disturbing how easily I’m able to see her as less than a speck of dust.
She bites her lower lip and looks down, tears welling in her eyes, confirming my suspicions. Of course he’s not the first. She looks like she does it on the regular.
And I didn’t notice.
Maybe I didn’tcareenough to notice.
Maybe I trusted her too much to question what she told me.
“I just… I just needed more,” she whispers, looking around, searching to see if anyone is listening to her fall from grace. Danika has only ever cared about her reputation, which I’ve always thought was a shallow fixation, but I’ve never really faulted her for it.
Now, I realize I don’t even know this girl.
“Was I that unsatisfying?” I ask, my voice stripped of emotion.
“No, it’s…you’re not rough enough and too nice, and I don’t like that all the time. But really, I love you?—”
“Spare me the love confessions. You didn’t look like you loved me when you were being fucked by another man.”
She glares at me. “So if a man cheats because he’s not satisfied, it’s fine, but if a girl does it, it’s an issue?”
“It’s an issue both ways. And when did Icheat, Danika? I was fully devoted to you.”
“You were fully devoted to the life you wanted in which I just happen to fit!” she whisper-yells. “You don’t even love me; you love the idea of me.”
“Don’t belittle my feelings just because you couldn’t reciprocate them. I gave youeverything.”
She laughs, the sound long and bitter. “Everything, yeah. Just not your emotions, not your jealousy, and definitely not your heart. Do you even have one?”
“Danika…”
“You’ll break up with me now, and you’ll do it publicly so you can humiliate me for daring to humiliate you. You just can’t stand the idea of another man touching yourthing, I get it, but you know what, I don’t regret any of it, least of all last night. At least I spent the night being worshiped by a man who knows exactly what he wants and goes for it, which can’t be said about you.”
I narrow my eyes.
She laughs, but tears well in her eyes. “You thought I couldn’t figure out your plan? Fine, I knew the day wouldcome that you’d find out about the sex and ditch me, or I’d marry you and live with a lifeless statue who knows all the right things to do and say, knows exactly when to smile, laugh, and say the right words, but lacks any fucking soul. I never really had you anyway. Guess I lucked out that it’s ending now instead of years down the road after we spawn kids.”
“Are you done?”
“Yeah.” She lets out an exhale. “I know I never had you fully. I never even had a fragment of you. All I had was an illusion.”
I let my lips set in a line as I speak in a loud voice for all those around me to hear, so that Danika’s precious social circle will become her downfall. She’s always loved gossiping about the new shit in town. It’s only fair that she becomes the topic.
“You, Danika, have cheated on me multiple times when I’ve only ever been loyal to you. You mistook the pedestal I put you on as a throne and are not fit for me. From today on, you’re nothing to me, my family, and my social circle. I do not want to see your face ever again.”
I don’t even look at her as I stride out of the venue amid whispers and gasps.
