Page 23 of The Hotel Room

Heknewshe didn’t want that.

She was being emotional. Irrational.

And when she finally cooled down—when she finallysaw sense—she’d realize it too.

They could move past this.

He wassureof it.

All he had to do was wait her out.

She’d come home. Eventually. Shehadto.

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The bar was loud—too loud. The low hum of voices, the clink of ice in glasses, the dull bass from the speakers overhead.

James stared down at his drink, the amber liquid untouched, ice slowly melting. The noise didn’t matter. He barely heard it over the restless churn in his chest.

Nick sat across from him, relaxed as always, swirling his whiskey like nothing in the world could touch him. The picture of a man who didn’thaveobligations. Who didn’t have a wife giving him the silent treatment. Or a house full of echoing, empty rooms.

James cleared his throat, grip tightening around the glass.

“I had sex with someone else.”

Nick blinked, whatever easygoing energy he’d been carrying evaporating instantly.

“What?”

James exhaled hard, jaw clenching as he forced the words out. “I screwed up. Used that app you kept talking about. It was just...one night. It didn’t mean anything.”

Nick leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “Hold on.Thatapp? Jesus, James, what were you thinking?”

James’s stomach twisted, heat flaring in his chest—but not shame. Anger.

“You’re the one who kept going on and on about how great it was. No strings, no consequences, just fun, right? You made it sound like it was nothing. Like it was just...normal.”

Nick’s expression darkened. “Don’t put this on me. I never told you to cheat on your wife, man. I use the app because I’m single. You—”

“You made it sound so easy,” James cut him off, voice tight. “You kept bragging about your hookups. And you know what? I wascurious. Can you really blame me for wondering what it would be like? I’ve been withonewoman since I was eighteen, Nick. One.”

Nick shook his head, disbelief written all over his face. “Yeah.Kate. The woman you married. The woman who’s been raising your kids while you work late every night.”

James’s jaw flexed. He felt it—his pulse kicking faster, the tension winding tighter—but he couldn’t stop the words now. “Kate’s left me.”

Nick’s eyes narrowed, anger flashing across his face. “What the hell were you expecting to happen, James? That you’d cheat on her and she’d bake you a damn pie to celebrate? Jesus Christ.”

“I wasn’texpectinganything! I thought—” He broke off, running a hand through his hair. “I thought it would get it out of my system. One night. Just sex. And she’s blowing itwayout of proportion.”

Nick leaned back in his chair, shaking his head slowly. “Blowing it out of proportion? James, youcheatedon her.”

James clenched his jaw, the anger simmering hotter as he replayed it all in his mind.Nickwas the one always talking about his hookups, bragging about how easy it was. Every guydeserved to feel that kind of freedom once in a while. How was he supposed tonotwonder what it felt like after all these years with only one woman?

And Kate—God, he’dtoldher not to come to New York. If she’d just listened, stayed home where she was supposed to be, she never would have seen anything. They’d still be fine. She was the one who had turned a stupid mistake into this entire mess.

James snapped, voice sharp and low. “It had nothing to do with her. And you know what? She’ll have to get over it because she doesn’t exactly have a choice.”

Nick’s face twisted, his mouth parting like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What the hell does that mean?”

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