Leila groaned for the hundredth time that evening. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t enjoying the girls company but this game of cards was so stupid.“Alright. Time to show your cards,” Lily yelled.The three of them sat cross-legged on the floor and the coldness of the tiles helped to keep Leila at alert. Her competitive side had been struck awake and she would win.She must win.Leila squeezed her eyes shut to let the first wave of dizziness pass. It had been a while since she was challenged to a drinking contest.“Fine,” Susie murmured. Among all three, she was the most relaxed. She waved her card in the air and winked. “You asked for this, losers.”She slapped her cards to the floor and a combined groan escaped Lily and Leila.Royal flush. Again.Leila stared at the cards and their arrangements. Her eyes lowered to the bottle of scotch and the glass shots lined beside it. She smacked her lips at the thought of taking another shot. She wanted nothi

Leila fell asleep on the flight home. She woke in Kelvin’s arms but didn’t move for fear of him asking her to walk. They got into the car and he cradled her to his chest like a baby, dishing out orders to the driver. She fell asleep again to the sound of his heart.The next time she woke, they were inside their room, on the bed. The lights were too dim for Leila to tell what time of the day it was. How long did she sleep? She darted a worried look at Kelvin and he smiled.“Hey,” she said. Her voice was scratchy like it had been out of use. She pulled the cover over her leg and rolled to the other end of the bed. “What time is it?”“No idea,” he replied. He propped his elbow on the pillow, taking in every move she made. “Are you okay?”“Yeah. Just tired, I guess.”Her clothes were still intact unlike last night and she was glad he didn’t change her. The memories from that night were

A long sigh and a nod later, the two friends walked out of the house. Leila had no idea where Freya was taking them but she allowed her friend to order an Uber.It felt right to spoil herself silly after years of hard work without a break. Kelvin was right about her needing to take a leave even if it was only for a day.But what was the point?All those years she never took one because there was no place for her to go. She could go home but it didn’t feel like home anymore. It hadn’t felt like one since she found out the truth. Her eyes stung from thinking about that night, the memory was still fresh.Leila looked out the window when she felt Freya’s gaze on her. Freya knew part of the story, she couldn’t tell her everything but she was grateful for her constant support.The cab slowed down in front of a store. A gasp lodged in her throat at the name written in glitters.“What the—?” she was saying to Freya who

Leila’s heart sped up. Her hands moistened and she subtly glanced around the office for any hidden cameras. There was nothing. More than ever, she wished Mike would disappear from her sight.“Him?” she whispered so the unwanted man watching her wouldn’t hear a thing she said.“Yes. Kelvin Michael Clyde. He’s there with you. Yes?” Yes but he came on his accord without her invitation. Leila could already sense her husband’s withdrawal before she spoke. “Enjoy the rest of your day, Leila.”“Kev, wait.”But he already ended the call.Leila flattened her hands on the table, her insides quaked in anger. She warned this guy to stay away from her, didn’t she? This bloody idiot. She opened her mouth to repeat the warning but Mike beat her to it.“Is that him? Your boyfriend?”“Yes.” And he was mad at her because of Mike. “Now, please leave.” Hol

Leila forgot how to breathe. She forgot how to be Leila.Her husband was kissing her. His lips were pressed to hers and his tongue was seeking entry into her lips. She moaned and his tongue slid into her mouth. A sound barrelled out of her lips when he lifted her off the seat to his lap, he swallowed that sound too and continued kissing her.His groan snapped her out of her trance, she palmed his face and kissed him back with a foreign urgency. Her fingers slid into his hair, she tugged on it from the roots, loving and loving the sound of approval he made. He tasted like wine mixed with chocolate. She loved it. His lips were officially her favourite part of him.They broke apart for air and his hand lowered to her back. The pad of his fingers brushed her open skin and she arched her back in response to his touch. Her body ached for more of him. Their foreheads touched, her fingers caressed her swollen lips and he chuckled. His lips were swollen too so it made them eve