“Hello?” I answered when his name popped up.
“Babe? I’m late. A semi tipped over on the highway and caused this huge pile up. All traffic is completely stopped. The police say it’s gonna be a few hours.”
“Oh my God. Are you okay?” I gasped, sitting down on the bed.
“Yeah we are all fine. Just wrong place at the wrong time. I was supposed to take you out dancing. I’m so sorry baby.”
“It’s okay. It’s the thought that counts,” I said. Disappointment fell over me, but the guilt from blaming him pushed it back. It wasn’t his fault.
“Why don’t you see what Cleo or Dita are doing? You can still go out. I’m sure you are looking way too hot to be sitting at home alone,” he teased. I smiled, my heart skipping a beat.
“I’m in that silver dress you like,” I murmured.
He hissed and groaned.
“Okay, you have to stop. I’ve got the guys in the car. I can’t be popping a woody for the next few hours. Call one of the girls, go have fun. But, not too much fun. Save some for me,” he chuckled.
“Will do. Love you. Call me with updates.”
He told me he loved me too and I called Dita first. She squealed with excitement and told me she was getting ready now. We called Cleo but there was no answer. Dita picked me up and we decided to drive over there and invite her out personally.
“You really think she’s wanting to dance right now? Or can, for that matter?” Dita asked.
“If the tables were reversed you know she’d be the first one to jump in the car to get either one of us. Whether she wants to go or not, we should extend the invite.”
“That’s true. You know, it’s kind of crazy. Derek and Adrian both built Cleo up to seem like some kind of dragon gatekeeper. If she didn’t approve, I was out. I was so afraid to meet her, I kept making Adrian make excuses for me. I liked him so much I was afraid that she’d end it for me.”
“Then, no offense, why did you cheat on him?” I tried to chuckle but Dita shot me a glare that told me she didn’t find it funny.
“It just kind of happened. It’s hard to explain. Well, not really. It wasn’t something either of us planned on happening. But- it feels right now. I know that despite how we got together, Derek is the one I’m meant to be with. Plus, Chase is so perfect for Adrian it’s not even funny. Seeing them together makes it all feel kind of perfect.”
I fell silent, taking in her words. I didn’t really know what to say to that. I guess she was right. It all worked out in the end and that’s all that mattered. Each couple was perfect.
“I don’t think dancing will pan out tonight. It looks like it’s about to start raining. I can feel the electricity in the air,” she commented. I looked out the window. She was right. The sky was darkening and clouds moving furiously. By the time we got onto the Andrew’s property it had started to drizzle.
Ethan’s car was parked in the front, not in the garage as usual. Odd. Did he stop home really quick to grab something before leaving again? Maybe he had to pull it out of the garage because Cleo was in labor. Why didn’t they call if something was wrong? Would they call, or just go and call at the hospital?
I leapt out of the car and despite my heels I ran towards the door. Was I panicking for nothing? Something in my gut told me I wasn’t. Something felt off. I knocked, no, pounded on the door and when I received no answer tried the knob. It opened, making my nerves even worse. They always locked the door.
Dita came up behind me.
“Renee, what is up with you?”
“Something is off. I can feel it,” I said, walking inside.
The house was silent. Too silent. I called out for someone.
“Hello? Ethan, Cleo, Tabatha?”
Silence. Dita walked in further and called as well. Finally, Ethan’s office door opened and Cleo rushed out. She looked up at us in surprise and when her eyes fell to me, she glared and pushed past us. What the hell? I looked in to the office and saw Ethan sitting on the edge of his desk, arms crossed, head down.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. Dita mumbled that she was going to see what was wrong with Cleo. Nodding to her, I went to talk to her husband.
He sighed when he looked up at me. Shaking his head, he rubbed his mouth and chuckled a dark, empty laugh came out.
“Someone leaked a video of us at the bar.”
It took me a moment to understand and comprehend what he said. I stared at him blankly before his words sank in. My eyes grew wide with realization and my guilt came over me like a tsunami. I could tell Ethan had already been hit at well.
