Chapter 6

Lauren's pov,

The road to the airport was quiet, except for the wind ripping past my ears. Vivian had her sunglasses on, and her hands were firm on the wheel, the music played softly and it all felt normal.

I slowly pulled out my ring and replaced it back on my finger, then Vivian’s phone started ringing.

“Can you get that for me?” She said over the hum of the engine.

I reached for the phone, but the screen flashed “Unknown number”. I hesitated for a second, before swiping to answer.

“Hello” I said,

The call was silent at first–static, till a familiar voice which I hadn't heard in weeks came through.

“Baby… are you both at the airport already?”

My heart froze. I knew the voice and I could boldly say it was my husband's.

My eyes widened as I stared at the phone like a cursed object. I thought I was choking; for a moment there I could barely breathe.

I slowly cleared my throat and shoved the phone against Vivian’s ear.

She glanced at me, with a flicker of confusion crossing her face before smiling lightly and whispered.

“Hey… yeah, we're almost there,” Her tone was calm, way too calm. “Alright, see you soon,”

The monster ended the call, I felt the air in the car shift. Tension filled the air as I stared at her and down to her phone.

I waited a while before asking, quietly, “Who was that?”

Vivian shrugged, brushing away the air strand from her face.

“Oh, that?” She stammered, “It's one of the guys from the other night,” she added, casually. 

She stared back at me and proceeded to mutter. “Don’t act so judgy– I have no idea why your face is that way, but while you were having your fun, I was having mine.”

“With my husband?” I smiled,

“Girl—” Vivian gasped, immediately stepping on the brakes, “Stop it, look here, no matter how bad it is, I would never—ever go near your husband.”

I quickly smiled like nothing was wrong, “I was just joking–” I muttered.

“Oh girl—” she sighed

I forced a small laugh, but inside my stomach was twisted. My chest felt heavy and my hands were utterly cold, I turned towards the window as I watched the blur of the road fade into grey.

All I could think about was the voice I heard– how soft it sounded and how familiar it was. I knew I was wrong to accuse her, but my mind couldn't be playing tricks on me–not with that voice.

I smiled faintly at Vivian, pretending everything was fine. But in that moment, I knew something was not right and I was ready to get to the bottom of it.

________

It had been a week since my trip– the one I went wild in, but at the moment sleep was a luxury I could barely afford.

I found myself tossing in my bed, staring at the ceiling as the clock clicked endlessly.

I was able to attend to my mother for a few days, but my husband– he began coming home late, worse than the very beginning– Sometimes, I woke up to an empty bed, he never came home and any time he did, the smell of perfume which wasn't mine lingered faintly on his clothes.

I wasn’t the type to keep tabs but here I was, trying to keep one. I thought I could fix it , I mean maybe we could go back to how we started. 

The little dates and all, I knew I wasn’t innocent and still I still had my doubts about Vivian and my husband, but that night it was different.

The house was quiet– way to quiet, I stared at my phone before tilting my neck towards the clock. I tried to call Vivian but there was no answer.

I frowned and tried again but the result was the same as the first. The same way Vivian knew me, so did I. I knew she was either fucking or asleep, but my mind already had an answer of its own.

Out of habit, I immediately dialed my husband's number next. It rang.. and rang.. until the call was cut off.

My mind was already playing a fast one in me– Was Vivian really having an affair with my husband?

My chest tightened as the silence pressed against me like a weight. I knew I couldn’t get mad, I wasn't a saint– my secrets were still welled up in Athens and the best way to free my mind was to either try sleeping or rather distract myself.

My mind proceeded to drift back to Athens, the crazy hookup I had. From the hotel room, the dimlights, and the man with the strong hands and kind eyes. I laughed softly at myself as I realized I couldn't even recall his name. But the memory… The way he had touched me, the way I had felt wanted– it was the best I had ever felt in my life.

I slowly closed my eyes, as I sunk into the feeling, this time it wasn't p**n rather my imagination giving me the depth of every single thing I had enjoyed.

My breath deepened, and my fingers traced slowly and delicate circles over my nipples, exactly the way he teased me with his tongue. My fingers slowly traced down to my panties as I felt my loneliness melt into warmth, my body had recalled every single moment I wished I had forgotten.

I was just about to hit climax, when I heard the front door getting opened.

My heart skipped a bit, I froze for a second, pulling a sheet over my chest as I listened. Laughter echoed faintly from downstairs– they were two male voices.

I panicked– my husband never told me he was having a visitor over, I quickly scrambled out of bed, slid into my night robe and hurried gently down the stairs.

At the base of the stairs, I saw him– Ezra, walking in with another man. They were both laughing at some kind of shred joke, their voices were casual and comfortable.

My husband turned slightly when he noticed me. “Oh hey, honey,” he said, smiling faintly as he closed in on me and landed a peck on my cheek– I guess this was the first affectionate thing I had felt from him in a while.

“Didn't mean to wake you.”

But my mind wasn't on him, not at all.

My eyes were locked in on the stranger beside him– he wasn’t a stranger to me anymore, because he had done what my husband couldn’t.

I felt the world go still the moment our gaze met– Ezra’s words faded out as my stomach dropped. Their laughter faded as it got replaced by a sickening rush of heartbeat.

Right in front of me stood the man from the night, the one who took his time to ruin me in and out even if I could barely recall his name.

I thought my heart had already gone through its strain this week, but nothing could have prepared me for what I heard next.

“Please meet Ezekiel– my brother,”