Page 38 of Infidelity Rules

I’m in the middle of an extremely poor attempt at the Running Man when my phone pings. My dancing is about as good as my drawing skills. Perhaps I should take Dezi up on joining her for lessons.

Speak of the devil, I think, glancing at my phone.

Dezi: Hey. I hear Elliot paid you a visit. He’s coming around.

Me: Seems that way! I’m so happy I’m dancing. Literally right this minute. The Running Man to be precise.

Dezi: Ha! I also hear you’re getting your cheese cart back. And he’s thrilled with your no-nonsense approach to Emma.

Me: Glad to hear it. Hope she wasn’t too offended.

Dezi: I don’t think so. I think it was just the sort of wake-up call she needed. We’ll see what happens.

Me: Keep me posted. Double date soon?

Dezi: I don’t think so. You and Elliot really need to be solid before we try to push Marcus on him. Cake Night really threw him.

I text her a thumbs up, a frowny face, a kissy face and a disco dancer emoji and leave it at that.

.....

An hour later I’m wrapping up my dance jam when there’s a knock at my door.

I’m not expecting anyone, so a package, maybe?

Or perhaps a neighbor annoyed by my leaping about?

I look down at my outfit. Crazy-old black leotard.

Weirdly shiny electric blue tights and rainbow sherbet-colored leg warmers.

I sort of got a little carried away. Okay, a lot carried away.

I open the door only to find Marcus, holding two cups of coffee and fresh bagels.

“Oh, this is good,” he says, smiling and looking me up and down. “This is better than good. I really need to make surprise visits more often.”

I’m in his arms in an instant, leg warmers be damned. “Shut up,” I say, burying my face in his neck.

“That is quite an outfit,” he says, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. “I dare say I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It’s a long story.” I usher him inside. “Mmmm, bagels and coffee. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Leotard story first,” he says with a grin, kissing me and setting out a spread of bagels, lox and cream cheese.

“Well, it’s not really a long story.” I dive into a pumpernickel bagel, slathering it with cream cheese. “I was rocking out to dance music while weeding out my closet and found this,” I say, gesturing to my aerobics get-up.

“And …?” He prompts.

“And I thought it would be fun to put it on and dance. There is something about leg warmers that really gets me in the mood.”

“There is something about leg warmers that really gets me in the mood, too,” he says, taking the bagel out of my hands and planting a long, soft kiss on my lips.

“Coffee, bagels and nookie. This is turning out to be an excellent morning.”

“I’ll say,” says Marcus as he scoops me up and carries me into the bedroom.

.....

We’re snuggling and enjoying a bagel picnic in my bed when I remember to ask Marcus why he’s even here. Not that I mind, but we were supposed to have a date tonight. Somehow, I think this is now the date.

Marcus must have read my mind because he pulls me towards him and tells me that his work schedule changed and he needs to fly out in a few hours. He won’t be back tonight.

“I’m sorry,” he says, nuzzling my neck. “I meant to tell you as soon as I walked in but, well, there was the leotard. And the leg warmers.”

I nod earnestly. “It can be very distracting.”

“You, my love, can be very distracting,” he says. “I hope it’s okay that I dropped by. I wanted to see you.”

“Of course.” I feed him a bite of bagel. “Wait until you see what I’m wearing next time.”

Marcus’s eyebrows shoot up and he smiles. “I look forward to it. When can I see you again? I’m free tomorrow when I get back from my trip.”

“I’d love that.” I’m past the point of playing games. I will see him every chance I get. “Oh no! I can’t,” I say, remembering I’m seeing Alex. “I already made plans with my brother.”

“Would this be Alex? I’d love to meet him.”

“You would?” I ask, feeling my heart skip a few beats. “Since when are we meeting family?”

“Since now,” says Marcus. “And yes, I would. I would very much like to meet him.”

.....

Two hours later, Marcus leaves for the airport after we solidify plans to drive to Baltimore tomorrow to see Alex.

Alex, of course, has no idea. How am I going to pull this off?

Do I surprise Alex? Do I give him the heads-up?

What in god’s name did I just agree to? I am brimming with nervous energy.

I see my shiny tights and leotard in a heap on the floor and wonder if I should dance this all off.

No, no, no, Quinn, I tell myself. You need to figure this out. Now.

I decide to call Alex. We’re supposed to go axe throwing again tomorrow and I cannot just show up with Marcus.

He answers on the first ring.

“Hey. What’s up? You never call.”

I get right to the point.

“Marcus is coming with me tomorrow. He wants to meet you.”

Silence.

More silence.

I can hear Alex breathing, but that’s it.

“Alex? Are you there?”

“I’m here, Quinn.”

“Are you okay with this? I know it’s weird. It just sort of happened and I didn’t want to spring it on you tomorrow.”

“Well, I appreciate the heads-up. It’s fine, I guess. Weird, but fine.”

“Why don’t you bring a date?” I ask him. “Take some of the pressure off.”

“Quinn. First of all, I’m not dating anyone. And even if I was, I certainly wouldn’t bring her to meet my sister and her married boyfriend. I would look like a jerk.”

“Since when do you care what people think?”

I hear Alex sigh.

“I love you Quinn, you know that, but you must see how crazy-making this is.”

“I’m nodding,” I say. “I know. I know. I am figuring this out.”

“And you don’t think Marcus meeting your family is going to muddy the waters and make everything harder?”

“I honestly didn’t think that far ahead,” I say. “We never discussed meeting family and then your name came up and suddenly he asked to meet you and I said yes. This was literally just a few hours ago.”

“Okay,” says Alex. “I’m cool with it.”

“Thanks. I’m hoping maybe after you meet him, you can help me figure it out.”

“I wouldn’t count on it. You won’t like my answer.”

I sigh. “Just wait until you meet him, okay?”

“Okay. Just promise me you won’t bring him around to mom and dad’s tomorrow.”

“Of course not. That would be suicidal.”

“Honestly,” says Alex, “I don’t know that you’ll ever be able to bring him home. Not unless he’s divorced.”

“No comment. See you tomorrow.”

.....

Marcus hits a bullseye on his very first try. Then another. Then another. And another.

“Impressive,” Alex says to me as we watch Marcus throw. “Are you sure he hasn’t done this before?”

I shake my head. “First time. Must be that pilot eyesight.”

I am thoroughly enjoying my view of Marcus.

Normally we’re in such close proximity I don’t get the chance to really look at him.

He’s at least a head taller than anyone else around with broad shoulders, sculpted arms and a gorgeous, statue-of-David ass.

And he’s clearly athletic, too. I watch him focus on the task at hand and continue to tally up points with every throw.

I sigh with pleasure as I drink him in.

“Wow, you’re nuts about this guy, aren’t you?” asks Alex, interrupting my mooning session.

“Is it that obvious?”

“About as obvious as Fantasia,” he says with a grin, nodding over my shoulder. “Looks like she’s coming over to say hello.”

I hear her sing-songy voice behind me.

“Alex,” she squeals. “I haven’t seen you in a while. And Quinn, so good to see you again.”

She flips her hair so that it brushes Alex’s shoulder and positions herself as close to him as possible without actually touching him.

“Hey Fantasia,” I say, as Alex nods at her and attempts to brush her hair out of his face. I can see it’s tickling his nose.

“Ooooh, I see you brought someone,” Fantasia says to me as she ogles Marcus. “And he’s a hottie, too. Just look at him throw. Oh wow. He’s really good at this.”

Alex rolls his eyes at me as he mutters, “Women” and “Damn Navy pilot” under his breath.

“So, what can I get y’all to drink? Alex, you want your usual?” asks Fantasia, lightly touching my brother on the forearm and looking up at him with her big brown cow eyes. They are cartoonish, framed with absurdly long eyelashes — extensions no doubt.

“We’ll do a Monument pilsner and two 51 ryes,” says Alex, looking dubiously at Fantasia with her huge lashes, so stupidly thick and long we can hear them smack together when she blinks. Which is often.

Fantasia turns to get our drinks just as Marcus finishes his final throw with a satisfying thwack. “You’re up,” he says to me, pulling me in for a quick kiss. “For good luck,” he says.

“I’ll need it after you. I’m hoping that was just beginner’s luck.”

I head towards the throwing area but then turn around and look at Marcus and Alex, already involved in conversation. “Hey, you two, behave,” I say.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Marcus says with a wink. “When have you ever known me to behave?”

Two hours and two beers later, my brother and I are getting our asses handed to us by Marcus.

“He’s impossibly good at this,” Alex says with a sigh as Marcus leaves to find the men’s room.

“Quick,” I say to Alex, as it’s our first opportunity to chat alone for a moment. “What do you think?”

“Besides the fact that he’s making me look bad? And that he opened up a can of whoop ass on us?”

“Come on, come on, spill it before he gets back,” I say, trying to hurry him along.

“You want the good or the bad first?”

“Whatever, just say it already.”

“He’s great, Quinn,” says Alex. “I like him. I really do. In spite of the fact that he’s seriously messing up my axe game AND he’s got bigger biceps than I do.”

I laugh and give Alex a friendly punch in the arm. “Yours aren’t half-bad.”

“Gee. Thanks,” he says. “Soooo …”

“Don’t bother telling me the bad.” I interrupt him. “I already know it.”

Alex just simply nods, but he scrutinizes my face. It’s as if he’s searching for Waldo in a Where’s Waldo poster. What is he expecting to find ?

“You’re the boss,” he says matter-of-factly.

“That she most definitely is,” says Marcus, coming up behind us and wrapping his arms around me.

I sink back into his chest as he rests his chin on my head.

I feel myself soaking him up — his scent, his voice, the feel of his forearms and the tickle of his five o’clock shadow.

I simultaneously want to feed him and nurture him and straddle him naked.

I have never known a love like this.

“So. Marcus,” says Alex. “What’s up with your wife?”

“Alex!” I say, glaring at him and mouthing, “Are you crazy?”

But I can see my brother is in full reporter mode. And there’s no stopping him.

“It’s okay,” says Marcus softly in my ear. “It’s a fair question.” He returns Alex’s gaze. “What would you like to know?”

Alex doesn’t say anything. He just lets the silence hang in the air until it almost becomes palpable, like a thick haze of smog. I know exactly what he’s doing. He’s employing his journalism skills, trying to get Marcus to jump in and fill the uncomfortable silence.

Marcus does not comply and I find this weirdly attractive.

The two men in my life are staring at each other.

“Marcus,” I say, unwinding myself from his arms. “You don’t have to answer.”

“I think I do,” he says quietly.