Page 27 of Absolution (Infidelty #3)

Jackie

“What are you doing?”

Marianne asks, narrowing her eyes at me.

I’m standing at the counter, cutting slices of cake onto paper plates.

“Putting cake on plates?”

I say, brows lifted like the answer’s obvious.

Kate walks in, balancing a tray of juice boxes.

“I think everyone’s good out there,”

she says, setting it down.

I ask her.

“Did Lorelie show?”

She shakes her head.

Marianne, who only met Kate today but has already latched on like they’re old friends, gestures toward me.

“I was just asking Jackie what the hell she’s doing.”

I blink. “Doing?”

Marianne turns to Kate, like pulling in backup.

“Her and Kyle. What’s with the flirting.”

“What flirting?”

I say, laughing because I don’t know what else to do.

Kate, still drying her hands on a towel, smiles at me.

“I mean… if my ex looked at me the way Kyle looked at you during candle time, I’d be on the floor.”

Marianne cackles, pointing. “See?”

I roll my eyes.

“Today is our kids’ birthday,”

I say.

“We’re just trying to show a united front.”

Marianne crosses her arms.

“And the whispering?”

“He was asking if I’m doing okay,”

I say, more tired than defensive.

“Today’s not just their birthday. It’s also the day we lost Duke.”

The kitchen goes quiet.

Kate’s face softens.

“I’m sorry,”

she says gently.

“That’s a heavy day.”

I nod, slicing the last piece.

“Yeah. It is.”

“Besides,”

I say, trying to sound nonchalant as I pass Marianne a plate.

“he brought a date.”

I don’t look up. Don’t let it show that seeing him with another woman felt like salt in old wounds.

Kate tilts her head.

“She’s not a date.”

That gets my attention. I glance up, brows raised.

“She said her husband’s picking her up,”

Kate adds, shrugging.

“What?”

I ask, giving her my full attention now.

Kate nods, picking at the edge of a napkin.

“We talked. I don’t know, maybe I was fishing for info, who knows. But she said she works with Kyle. Her car broke down on the way back from some work thing, and he offered to let her wait here for her husband instead of being stranded on the side of the road.”

I let out a breath. “Huh.”

“That,”

Marianne says, pointing a finger straight at my face.

“Why do you look relieved?”

“I mean…”

I try to shrug it off, keep my voice casual.

“I divorced the guy. But it’s not easy seeing an ex move on.”

Kate watches me carefully.

“Is it because… maybe you want him back?”

“No.”

The word comes out fast. Too fast.

“No. Kyle hurt me more than anyone ever has. I can’t-”

“Does he know that?”

Marianne interrupts, arms crossed.

“Cause the way he’s been acting today…”

“He knows,”

I say quickly. Then quieter.

“I mean, I think he does.”

Kate gives me a look, not unkind.

“All we’re saying is, don’t lead the guy on.”

Kyle and I have been talking a lot lately. It’s not easy throwing a birthday party for three kids, especially when each of them wants their own thing, three cakes, three activities, different decorations. But I thought Kyle understood it was about the kids. Hell, I was actually proud of how well we were co-parenting.

I don’t want to have this conversation again.

By the time the last of the guests leave, I’m knackered. Cory took the kids to the mall to pick out their gifts. Why he couldn’t do that before the party, I have no idea. And yeah, I’ve been talking to him again, but it’s nowhere near what it used to be. And yes, I get the irony. I talk to Kyle more than I talk to Cory, and Cory’s my brother. I just can’t forget the fact that he should have been on my side. But apparently, bros before... whatever.

I’m wiping down the counter when Kyle walks in through the side door, holding two full trash bags.

“I cleared the back,” he says.

“Thanks,”

I reply.

“You didn’t have to stay.”

He smiles, easy.

“Please. Like I’d leave you to clean this whole mess.”

I smile back, polite, tight.

“So, I was thinking,”

he says, setting the bags down.

“you wanna grab breakfast tomorrow? It is Sunday.”

I pause, then grimace as I turn to face him.

“Actually, I have plans.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“Oh? Hot date?”

“Kyle,”

I say, sharp.

“What? I’m just asking.”

I hesitate.

“You know this was just about the kids, right? I didn’t… I don’t want to blur any lines.”

“Whoa,”

he says, holding up his hands.

“Of course I know. What, you think I was hitting on you?”

He lets out a weird, awkward laugh. “Relax.”

“I’m just saying,”

I say quietly, but firm.

“Kyle… we’re never getting back together.”

He smirks.

“Taylor Swift?”

I narrow my eyes.

He exhales.

“Look, if me being nice is somehow uncomfortable for you, then how about I just stop?”

“Don’t overreact,” I snap.

“No, seriously,”

he says, stepping back.

“From now on, you do what you want when the kids are with you, I’ll do what I want when they’re with me. No more ‘coordinating.’ Fine?”

“Fine.”

“Fine,”

he says again, then grabs his keys off the table and storms out the door.

I really thought that once his anger wore off, things would go back to the way they were before. But they don’t.

We still trade the kids on Sundays, his driveway or mine, short nods, clipped goodbyes, but the texts have stopped. No mor.

“Jemma’s got a cough”

o.

“Levi forgot his homework.”

No check-ins, no updates. Just silence.

And I don’t try either. He overreacted. He should be the one to apologize. What is he even angry about? That he acted like a decent human being for once and I didn’t immediately drop my panties?

I knew nice Kyle wouldn’t last. I was just waiting to see when the mask would slip. And now it has. Whatever. I don’t care. He wants to act like a child? Fine. I can act like one too.

“You, okay?”

Charlie asks.

“Of course,”

I say.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

He glances pointedly at the crushed paper straw between my fingers.

“You look… angry.”

I debate how much to say. Charlie’s someone I met through Kyle, technically. One of those big legal parties, years ago, suits and small talk and way too much wine. He was standing near the bar, no tie, sipping something dark and expensive like he actually knew the difference. We only exchanged a few words that night, but I remembered him. His easy charm, the way he smiled with one side of his mouth, like he knew something you didn’t.

We ran into each other again the week after the kids’ birthday, at that café off Lamar. I was there for the quiet, he was there for the espresso. We recognized each other instantly. He said something about fate. I rolled my eyes but gave him my number anyway.

This is our fourth date. He’s easy to be around. Comfortable. Older than Kyle by maybe six or seven years, with streaks of silver at his temples that make him look distinguished instead of tired. He owns a chain of hardware stores now, nothing flashy, but steady. He’s been divorced once too, no kids. He doesn’t fill silences with questions or pressure. And sometimes that feels like a gift.

It’s strange, though. He doesn’t just know Kyle, he once hired him. Back when Charlie and his business partner split, he brought Kyle in to handle the paperwork. That was almost a decade ago. They haven’t crossed paths since. So, there’s that.

“I’m just thinking,”

I say finally, tracing the rim of my water glass.

“I’m gonna have to tell Kyle. Even though it’s his week, I should still let him know I’ll be out of town.”

Charlie raises an eyebrow.

“Are you going to tell him about me?”

I laugh under my breath.

“Kinda have to.”

He leans back; arm draped lazily along the back of the chair.

“I think he won’t mind. Kyle seems like a solid guy.”

I stare at him for a second, unsure if I heard him right. Then I look away, swallowing the small knot in my throat.

“Sure,”

I say. “Solid.”

He doesn’t push. Just reaches for the wine and tops off my glass, like he knows some things are better left sitting in the air a while.

The following Sunday. I drop the kids off like usual. Kyle seems to linger longer than he needs to, standing in the lot with his hands in his pockets.

“Kyle,”

I say.

“Can you stay a minute? I need to talk to you about something.”

He nods, watching as the kids run upstairs.

Before I can say anything, he speaks first.

“I’m sorry,”

he says.

“I acted like a jerk. Then I doubled down instead of just owning it. I… I’m sorry.”

I blink, surprised.

“Wow. Thank you.”

I pause, softer.

“I’m sorry too. I was just… worried.”

He nods slowly, but when I don’t follow up, he studies me.

“So… if that it-?”

“I’m going to Kerrville,”

I interrupt.

“Kerrville?”

I take a breath.

“I’m seeing Charlie. He invited me to his cabin in Echo Reach. Just outside of town. This week.”

Kyle stares at me.

“Wait. Who is this guy? How well do you even know him? Jackie, that could be-”

“It’s Charlie Pine,”

I say, cutting in.

“The guy who owned RJ’s.”

His face shifts.

“Oh. That Charlie Pine.”

“Well, I’m going,”

I say.

“I just thought I should let you know. In case the kids need anything, or…”

He’s quiet for a long beat, eyes searching mine like he’s trying to read something that isn’t there.

Finally, he clears his throat.

“Right. Well… good luck.”

“Thanks,” I say.

He turns and walks up the stairs. I watch him go, my arms crossed tight against the wind.

It shouldn’t matter anymore, but watching him go leaves a quiet, dull ache I can’t quite shake.