Page 133 of The Temptation of Truth

His face is scrunched and ugly with fury, and his eyes scan the room, jumping over everyone until finally landing on me. My hand flies to the pendant of my necklace, clutching it tightly, as I act on muscle memory.

It’s almost pathetic how my body moves on instinct. It’s something I’ve done for years, only this time, it’s like I’m watching it from above.

It’s notmeplastering on a smile and walking up to greet him. It’s notmyhigh-pitched, quivering, saccharine voice inviting him inside. It’s some woman who looks like me, some actress in a movie or figment of my imagination. I can’t stop it. I can’t intervene. I can only watch in disgust.

“Brady! Hi. What a nice surprise.”

He scowls at me, but I do my best to ignore it and go in for a hug. His body is rigid and wrong in my arms. Too hard. Too cold. I kiss him on the cheek and hide a wince when his stubble scratches my lips. He doesn’t make a move to embrace me back, and I’m grateful for it.

I widen the distance and try to run damage control the only way I know how.

“I didn’t know you were coming.”

His jaw pops and his nostrils flare as he glares at me.“Maybe if you’d answer your phone, you wouldn’t be surprised.”

The bite in his tone makes me flinch, but I try my best to hide it with a bright smile.

“Oh, I can’t find my phone. It must?—”

“You had it last night when you called to say you weren’t leaving the fucking tour.”

I flinch again, and I dart my eyes to the kitchen where all the women, including Mabel, are now openly watching this embarrassing dumpster fire. I step a little closer and lower my voice.

“How about we go to lunch?—”

“No, how about we talk about it right fucking now.”

He hasn’t raised his voice, but the barely contained anger is evident to me in every syllable. I reach with trembling fingers to brush his hand, but he smacks me away.

“I’d love to show you around. We can?—”

“So, you lost your phone, Aurora? And you expect me to believe you’re responsible enough to stay here? You can’t even keep track of your own shit.”

It’s my impulse to nod, and despite trying to fight it, I apologize. “I’m sorry. I’ll find it. I’m sure it’s here somewhere.”

He opens his mouth again, but snaps it shut when Sav slings her arm over my shoulder and Mabel steps up on my other side.

I look quickly between the two of them, and then at my husband. He’s livid, and they’re too close. I try to take a step back, to get them out of his reach, but their feet stay planted firmly in place. In fact, to my absolute horror, they’re both glaring defiantly at him.

This is not good. This is very, very bad.

“What do you want?” Brady snaps, shifting his eyes between Sav and Mabel. “This is a private conversation.”

“You’re talking so loud the neighbors could hear you, bud,” Sav says, voice all sass and snark. “I’m curious. Is this how you always speak to Aurora?”

“It is,” Mabel says, and she’s simmering with rage. “I’ve heard it before. Apparently, his role is to play the controlling, abusive asshole.”

“This is none of your business.”

Sav holds up a finger. “Yeah, no. You’re not tall enough to use that attitude with me. Bring the audacity down until it matches your height, okay, buddy?”

I think Brady’s head might explode. His height is his biggest insecurity, second only to his receding hairline. How Sav knew to hit on it is beyond me, but it just makes me more scared for her. I need to get him out of here.

“It’s fine, Sav, he didn’t mean to get loud.” I look back at Brady. “Let’s go to the beach, okay? We can talk there.”

He turns his narrowed eyes on me, and I let him see the desperation in my face. I’m not above begging.

“Please,” I whisper, and I feel Mabel stiffen beside me.