Page 65 of Choosing Hope

I swat his arm with the back of my hand. Just because I don’t particularly like Zoe doesn’t mean I’ll allow him to be rude about her.

“I’ll have you know her husband left only six months ago.”

Carlo opens his mouth to respond, but his eyes flick to Spencer and he thinks better of it, though I’m pretty sure we all knew what he was planning to say.

I busy myself with the cake box, keeping my head down.

“It’s your turn to deal with the leech. I’ll come and rescue you with a major plumbing emergency in a moment,” Spencer tells Carlo.

“Ugh, you’ve got to be kidding,” Carlo groans.

I grin to myself; it’s amusing that they’ve picked up on her desperation too.

“Go on, fuck off,” he teases.

Carlo moves slowly toward the door, mumbling to himself.

As he slides the door closed, the atmosphere in the room changes. It’s no longer playful but has become charged and slightly uncomfortable.

“You look beautiful,” Spencer’s voice rolls around me.

I glance coyly over my shoulder with a smile, pleased with myself for making an extra effort this morning. For my plan to work, I need him eating out of the palm of my hand.

“You look tired. Did you enjoy yourself last night?” I ask with an arched brow; I hope to show him I’m not angry about his time with Carlo.

The clip of his heels as he stalks toward me fills the room, and I wait for him to touch me, but he doesn’t.

Instead he stands a foot away, leaning his hands on either side of the counter in front of me.

“Turn around, Sophie.” The seriousness of his voice is troubling. My heart sinks.Is this it?Is he going to tell me he can’t do this anymore?

“Can we do this later?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even. “I need to set up her cake and take it out to her. Soon after that, everyone will start leaving.”

He falls silent but doesn’t move; I’m aware he’s waiting for me to comply.

Once I’ve pushed the last candle into the cake, and I have no other excuses, I turn, glancing down at his chest.

“Please look at me, Sophie,” he pleads.

I lift my chin, and he takes a moment to search my eyes, as if looking for answers to questions he hasn’t asked yet.

“I love you, and don’t want to spend my life with anyone else.” The lump that’s forming in my throat burns. “I’m so fucking confused about so many things, Soph, but one thing has never changed. I will always want you and our daughter.”

Unsure about what I’m supposed to say, I bob my head.

“We need to talk properly, and now isn’t the time, but please never think this is any reflection of you. It absolutely isn’t.”

I chew the inside of my lip where there’s historical scar tissue from the same repeating habit. He doesn’t speak, and I’m sure he’s waiting for me to say something.

“You’ve met someone else though, haven’t you?”

His eyes flit between mine again.

“I’ve been seeing the same person regularly for the last four months in a sex club.”

His confirmation steals my breath. I stare at him, a tight fist of nerves gripping my stomach, as I wait to hear what else he’s going to say.

“We rarely have sex, but she performs for me with other men and women. I think I’m enjoying the dominance of the scene.”