Page 17

Day Five

We split up mid-morning. I wanted to shop. He wanted to make a few calls. No big deal. I kissed him goodbye, told him to meet me for lunch, and headed into town.

The little boutiques were cute—local art, handwoven baskets, overpriced linen. I picked up a coral necklace for Maya and was halfway to the counter when I saw her.

Lilith.

In a white dress. Big sunglasses. Walking slow through the open-air market like she owned the damn sky.

Two men flanked her—one behind, one to the side.

Security. Right beside her was Priest bighead ass.

Knowing he had a wife and seeing him with his wife were two things all together. They looked too happy for me.

I stood frozen behind a rack of sarongs.

They didn’t see me .

My stomach was on the ground

This wasn’t some random coincidence.

He brought her too.

I felt tears starting to wet my eyes but I wasn’t going to cry.

I put the necklace down. Left the store without buying a thing. Walked all the way back to the villa barefoot, because my sandals started to feel like too much.

When I got inside, Priest was sitting on the deck shirtless, reading something on his phone like nothing was wrong.

“You brought her?” I asked.

He didn’t even look up. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb, Priest. I saw you two.”

Now he looked at me.

“She’s staying at a different resort.”

My chest burned. “So you’re just—what? Splitting time? Fuck me in the morning and walk her around at night?”

“I didn’t plan for her to be here.”

“Bullshit.”

“She followed me down with her guards. I didn’t invite her.”

I stepped back, shook my head. “You don’t even get how insane this is. You brought me here after disappearing for a month, as some half asses apology and your wife is a boat ride away?”

“She doesn’t matter.”

“She does when you’re married to her. And it really does matter to her. She followed you to a whole fucking different country.”

His face didn’t change. He was calm. Like I was making a big deal out of nothing. That irked me so bad I decide right then, fuck him.

“I came here with you,” he said flatly. “I’ve been in your bed. I’m staying with you? You think if she matter- ”

I cut him off “I think you are a liar and a manipulator.”

His jaw tensed.

I grabbed my things. Tossed everything into the open suitcase.

He didn’t stop me. That’s how I knew he was lying, If he didn’t have to stay there with her, he would be following me. And now that I knew he didn’t want me there to maybe crash out and fuck up whatever lie he told her.

He didn’t say a word. Not until I was halfway to the door .

“You love me, I’ll see you back at home. ” he said, low.

I turned. “I don’t love you nearly enough to do this anymore.”

Then I walked out.