Page 94 of Pure Abandon

It’s Gabriel.

Red, puffy circles hide his navy eyes. Dew streams down his cheeks while his once strong and lean stature is surrendered to the arm of the chair. Wavy brown hair stands up on all ends. Disheveled and disdained.

“Gabe.” I start toward him, but he holds up his hand, halting me in the middle of the room. A glass of dark-brown liquid is in his other hand. A half-empty bottle beside it. He is still in his suit pants, his jacket thrown haphazardly on the floor. His sleeves are rolled up, one three-quarters and the other hanging lower. His tie is undone and his shirt unbuttoned halfway. He has water stains on his hands from either the liquor or the tears.

He’s looking in my eyes, but instead of looks of love, there is only despair.

“I can explain.” I take a step toward him again, but his mouth opens to speak.

“Explain what?” His voice quivers. “This?” He holds up his phone to show me the same photo I saw in the cab.

I turn my head from the sight. Bile rises in my throat. Where do I begin?

“I left, Gabe. I couldn’t do it. I left to come home.” My bottom lip trembles.

“Did you fuck him?” The accusation comes out of his mouth like venom filled with anger and resentment.

I stand there stunned.

“Did. You. Fuck. Him?” His jaw is clenched, eyes burning with rage.

With my head lowered, I answer the only way I can.

“Yes.”

“AHHH!” Gabriel screams.

Rising from the chair, he throws his glass toward the wall. I jump and step back, afraid for what his next reaction might be. Not that I’d blame him. Gabriel turns his body away from me. His hands are on his hips. His body grows frigid, his back muscles tighten, and I can see his rage building.

He turns suddenly and looks at me with fresh tears in his eyes.

“You whore!” he screams.

Air leaves my body, and I struggle to breath. I have never seen such hate in his eyes. He called me a whore. Isn’t that what I am?

Wait a minute. Doesn’t it take two to tango?

My jaw sets into a quivering mess of rage. My fists ball up to my sides. How dare he treat me like this when I, at least, had the decency to wait to talk to him about his own indiscretions?

“You hypocrite!” I cry.

His eyes look at me in astonished confusion.

“Don’t you pretend you had nothing to do with this.” I point my finger violently at him. “Don’t tell me there is nothing going on between you and that tart in the park. What’s her name…? Becca!”

Gabriel’s jaw drops with amber liquid wet on his lips. “Are you fucking kidding me? What the hell does Becca have to do with any of this?”

“I heard her, Gabe. I heard her talking about you!” Finally, I’m letting it out. “And I found her panties. You asshole. I found her underwear in the car!” My eyes well up with tears. Saying it out loud makes it so real.

“What are you talking about? Why would Becca’s underwear be in our car?” He’s trying to control his breath.

“Well, if they’re not hers, then whose are they?” The thought frightens me. How much do I not know? “Who are you fucking, Gabriel?”

He looks at me with clarity. His eyes widen in a stunned expression. “Is that why you did this? Did you throw away our marriage because you think I’m having an affair?” He covers his mouth with his hand. “Is that what this is about, Kat? An eye for an eye?” He lowers his hand. “Would you really throw away almost ten years because you think I cheated?”

It’s a statement more than a question. Have I been wrong this entire time?

No. I’m not wrong. I know what I found.