Page 10 of The Liar's Wife

He spun back around. “What—oh, I didn’t. I mean, I did, but…when I said he brought it here, I just meant I ran into him outside. He was bringing it by, but he hadn’t told me. I just happened to catch him leaving the building, and I didn’t want to have to come back upstairs.”

I nodded, but I didn’t believe it. I was fighting so hard against my instincts because of my past relationship. It had no place here. Nate was Nate and Ben was Ben, and they were not the same. “Well, please tell him thank you for me. Here, let me wash my hands. I want to feed him.”

I hurried to the sink and scrubbed my hands beforereturning to Ben’s side and taking my son. I sank into the couch, happily obliging his hungrily bobbing head.

Ben made himself a glass of water, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand once he’d finished gulping it down. “I was thinking pizza for dinner. What sounds good to you?”

“Pizza’s fine,” I said, rubbing a finger across Gray’s cheeks. It was the first time I’d felt at peace all day.

“Excellent. I’m going to take a shower before I get it started.” With that, he disappeared down the hall, leaving Gray and me alone. It wasn’t until I heard the water running that I realized he hadn’t kissed me hello. That was a first.

Ben and Graywere sound asleep on the couch while I typed away on my computer. Anderson’s secretary had sent over a list of his requests, and I was busy drafting my proposal for his event. It would easily be a quarter of a million. I shuddered as the bill continued to rise with each new estimate. It was more than my salary, on an event that would last half a day. Sometimes my job made me sick.

I looked over at my husband, peacefully sleeping with Gray on his chest. I couldn’t pretend it didn’t bother me that they’d left the apartment without telling me, but it was irrational to be mad. Ben was in charge of his care. Of course they’d be going places without letting me know. So why was it bothering me so much?

I closed the laptop and laid it on the coffee table, standing up. Ben had finished up the dishes, but the dish towel lay on the counter. I grabbed it and walked to the bathroom. His clothes lay on the floor. I knew he’d get them in the morning, this wasn’t my job anymore, but it still bothered me. Icouldn’t sink into a nice, luxurious bath while a pile of dirty clothes sat festering on the floor. I scooped them up, walking toward the bedroom to put them into the hamper, but groaned when I realized it was already overflowing. He needed to start a load, but he was exhausted. I pushed the anger from my mind, smiling sadly at the spit-up covered shirt on top of the pile.

Sighing, I heaved the hamper into the hallway and opened the washer. I tossed the dish towel in first, then reached in his pants pocket and pulled out change, a tissue, and a receipt before throwing his pants and shirt in as well. I laid the pile on top of the dryer and began sorting through the hamper, separating our clothes from Gray’s. When the laundry had been started, I grabbed the receipt, ready to throw it away and toss the change in Gray’s piggy bank when I looked it over.

Gary’s Grill

It was date stamped for that day at noon. He’d stopped for lunch.

I’d never heard of the place, but the address showed it was a few blocks from the park. My eyes trailed down the receipt, a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Why had he ordered two meals?

I forced myself to inhale a sharp breath. I couldn’t panic. I walked back to our bedroom and put the hamper away with shaking hands, then shoved the receipt into my pajama pants pocket before returning to the living room. I touched his arm, causing him to stir.

He sniffed, rubbing his eyes before he opened them. He looked at me, then around the room, then down at his chest where Gray lay.

“Are you ready for bed?” I asked.

“Mhm,” he said as I lifted Gray. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“You had a long day.”

“Not as long as yours,” he said, shifting his weight around so he could sit up. “Did you finish the show?”

I shook my head. “I turned it off when you started snoring. I had emails to deal with anyway, and I didn’t want you to miss it.”

He kissed my cheek. “Thanks, babe.” When he stood, he stretched, then lifted his coffee cup from the end table and walked it to the sink. Noticing I hadn’t moved, he walked back toward me. “Is everything okay?”

“What all did you do today?” I asked, trying to keep my voice lighter than the weight I felt in my chest.

“What do you mean?” He sat down on the coffee table across from me, seeming concerned, albeit sleepy.

“When you were out.”

“We…went to the park. Walked around for a bit…walked around the neighborhood.”

“That was it?”

His eyes narrowed at me, his expression conflicted between laughter and confusion. “I think so… Why do you ask?”

I folded my hands across my chest. “Did you go out to eat?”

He was still for a moment, then recognition filled his expression. “I grabbed lunch at a little restaurant near the park, yeah. How did you know?”