you the royal treatment and walk with you all the way to your car.”
“So much for letting the air out of her tires,” Camille murmurs with an exaggerated frown.
Michael cups a hand around his mouth and tells Camille as an aside, “You can do that later, when it’ll be more of a surprise. If you did it now, it would be expected. Catch her when she’s let her guard down.”
Even I wouldn’t strand a pregnant woman in the parking garage. Even if she did pretend to be my good friend while she fucked my husband. Even if I hated her guts.
Well, I might, but I’d be damn sure no one knew I did it. I shift the box higher under my arm and try to hold my hands out like I’m surrendering to the cops. “You ready to give me the royal treatment? I’m looking forward to that walk.”
Michael inclines his head toward the door, so I step around him and out into the hallway. They both follow me all the way down the hall.
“I’ll call you later!” Camille says from behind us. I give her a thumbs-up without even looking back.
The reception desk goes eerily quiet as I walk by. I look directly into Sandra’s eyes. She startles and takes a step back. “Congratulations on the baby,” I say. I smile at her, and I try to make it as nice as I can. “I know you’ve always wanted to be a mother.”
She nods and makes a tight swallow. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I turn to walk away. But at the last moment, I turn back. “One question for you, though,” I say. “Why him?” I stare at her, and she straightens her spine. I’m actually quite impressed by that.
“You know that your marriage has been failing for a long time.”
I nod at her. “So that’s the reason?”
“He was so unhappy. You had to have known that.” She gives me a pitying look, her eyes soft.
Oh, I knew it. “Well, I’m glad you solved that for him.” I tap the desk in front of her with the flat of my palm. “Best of luck to you.”
“Thank you,” she says quietly. Her gaze darts from one person around us to another, like she’s looking for backup. I turn to walk away.
But then I turn back.
“Fuck,” I hear Michael whisper on a sigh.
“When did it start?” I ask Sandra.
“You’ll have to talk to Charles about that,” she says, and then she bites her lips together. I stare at her long enough that she adds, “You guys haven’t even had sex in months!” One of the other nurses lets out a startled gasp but covers it with a cough.
I smile. “Is that what he told you?”
She squares her shoulders even more. “Yes.”
I lean close to her and whisper loudly, “We had sex yesterday. In the morning. And the night before. I remember because I was on top for the nighttime encounter.” I crook my finger and scratch my cheek, pretending to think. “And we did the lazy-dazy side booty kind of sex the next morning. You know, when you want it, but you don’t want to put a lot of work into it. That kind of sex.”
Her crestfallen face is worth the price my ego has paid today. “You’re lying,” she says.
“Well, one liar should be able to ferret out another.” I slap my hand on the counter again. “I wish nothing but the best for both of you.” I glance toward her stomach. “The three of you, actually.” That part makes my gut churn, but I ignore it.
Then I turn and march out of there for good, holding my spine as straight as if I had an iron rod stuck up it. When the elevator doors close, John and Michael finally let out the laughter they were holding in during that encounter. John laughs so hard that he has to wipe his eyes.
“Dude, I thought she was going to shit herself when you said you did the side booty action.” He chuckles again, unable to contain it.
“Well, she deserved to know the truth.” I brush a lock of hair from my face and stare at the closed doors.
He freezes. “Wait,” he says. “You were serious?”
What did it matter if I was serious? “Yes. Completely.”
“So she did wreck your marriage?” All the laughter was gone from his tone. “I’m sorry I laughed. It’s not funny.”
“She kind of spread the word that your marriage was over months ago,” Michael explains.