“Nice to meet you.”
“And that,” Dominic continues, pointing toward the man sitting beside him, “is Marcus’s husband, Keith.”
Keith grins.
“Nice to meet you.”
Then Dominic gestures toward the last woman at the table.
“And this is Sophie. She joined our department not too long ago.”
My breath catches.
She stands.
She’s almost exactly my height. A sleek black dress hugs her frame, her short blonde hair falling neatly just above her jawline. A black scarf drapes around her neck, the corner embroidered with white initials: S.L. and a brown coat hangs over the back of her chair. She’s beautiful and she came alone. My heart begins racing so fast I can feel it in my chest.
Then the memory crashes into me.
The day I turned the car around because something deep in my gut keeps screaming that something isn’t right. The same day I walked into our bedroom and saw a blonde woman on top of Dominic. I feel the same heartbreak all over again.
It’s her. She’s the woman.
My hands start to shake slightly, but I force myself to stay calm. She steps forward and extends her hand.
“Hello,” she says easily. “I’m Sophie. Sophie Lewis.”
I take her hand. “Hi, Sophie.” I hesitate for a moment. “I’m his wife.”
She pauses briefly.
“Dominic’s wife,” I add quickly.
She smiles.
“Well hello, Dominic’s wife.”
I blink, realizing what I just said.
“Sorry—uh,” I say awkwardly. “My name is Era.”
Dominic glances at me briefly.
Everyone settles back into their seats. A waiter arrives to take our drink orders, wine for the table, and the conversation slowly begins to flow. Marcus suddenly leans forward.
“Okay, I have to tell her this story,” he says, pointing at Dominic.
Dominic groans immediately.
“Oh no.”
Emily laughs.
“This is a good one.”
Marcus grins at me.
“So a few weeks ago Dominic was leading this huge presentation for the department.”
