OB-LO: Deadline for Innocence

For a moment, I could only stare at Claire.

What she didn’t know was that I had spent years secretly learning her mother tongue, French.

I tightened my grip on my wineglass and looked at Noah in disbelief. He was watching her with a smug, adoring smile.

Claire met his gaze and winked at him as if no one else were in the room.

The look between them was so familiar and intimate that I suddenly felt like the outsider in my own relationship.

I had literally no idea how long they had been together behind my back.

Pain spread through my chest, sharp and suffocating. I pressed a hand against it and took a slow breath, fighting to keep myself under control.

My trembling hand betrayed me. Wine spilled over the rim of my glass and splashed across Noah’s shirt.

“What the heck, Ethan?”

Noah shot to his feet and looked down at the stain.

“Do you have a problem with me or something? Why did you throw your drink at me?”

My thoughts were in chaos. I couldn’t bring myself to answer.

Claire turned toward us. “Noah, what happened?”

He walked over to her, putting on an injured expression.

“Ethan just threw his wine at me. I don’t even know what I did to upset him. You gave me this shirt, and tonight was my first time wearing it.”

Claire’s expression darkened as she looked at me. “Ethan, what are you doing?”

Noah turned back to me, a hint of provocation in his eyes.

“If you’ve got a problem with me, say it to my face. We’re both men. You don’t need to pull something like this.”

I finally came back to myself. Watching the two of them play off each other was almost laughable.

I let out a cold laugh. “You know exactly what you did, Noah.”

“What is wrong with you?” Claire’s voice hardened. “You spilled wine all over him, and somehow this is his fault? Apologize. Now!”

“I’m not the one in the wrong. Why should I apologize?”

My refusal set her off. She glared at me. “What has gotten into you tonight? Everyone is watching. Stop making a scene.”

My voice turned icy. “And if I don’t?”

Claire’s face went rigid. “Then get out.”

The room fell silent. Everyone exchanged uncomfortable looks, but no one said a word.

Without another word, I picked up my coat from the couch and walked out as they all watched.

Claire apparently hadn’t expected me to leave. She stared after me, stunned.

One of her friends lowered her voice. “Ethan looks seriously upset. Shouldn’t you go after him?”

Claire recovered and waved her off.

“No. He’s just jealous because I bought Noah a shirt. Give him a couple of days. He’ll come crawling back to apologize, just like he always does.”

She was right about that much. Whenever Claire and I fought, I was always the one who swallowed my pride and tried to make peace.

But not this time.