Page 98 of Unfaithful

Then another message came through.

"And this time, she's going to regret messing with me."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Sara

"Ten minutes," Emma said, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Ten minutes until he's here."

"Yeah..." I trailed off, my mind spinning as I reconsidered—again and again—whether I was really going to do this.

A date with Archie. Finally.

And yet, with exactly ten minutes to go, doubt crept in.

Was I truly ready for this?

And the funny thing was, I was the one who first suggested it.

The idea had been haunting me, and I couldn't shake it. I hadn't given Archie a chance, hadn't givenusa chance. How could I know what I truly felt for him if I kept holding back?

I couldn't shake the uncertainty. Was it right to go on this date, knowing how Archie felt about me... and that I was still unsure how I felt about him?

The divorce was already done. I was a free woman. A date or two was perfectly reasonable, wasn't it?

I sighed.

I had left work early to prepare for this date. It had been so long since I'd gone on one that the whole thing felt unfamiliar.

As I stood in the middle of my walk-in closet, I hesitated. What was I supposed to wear? Something casual? Something a little dressy? It wasn't just about looking good. I needed to feel comfortable, too.

Archie had said it was someplace casual, so that made the choice easier. I should keep it simple.

But no matter what I picked, the nerves didn't go away. Maybe it wasn't about the outfit at all. Maybe it was the fact that, after everything, I wasn't sure if I was ready for this.

In the end, I opted for simple jeans and a loose sweater in a cream, almost golden color. It complemented my pale skin, adding a touch of warmth without feeling too dressy.

My makeup was already done—subtle and natural, just enough to enhance my features. I had tied my hair back, keeping it simple, not wanting to overthink things more than I already had.

Then I scrambled to find shoes and finally decided on flat boots. Practical, comfortable. Though without heels, Archie would tower over me, and I'd have to crane my neck just to look at him. I slipped them on anyway. Comfort won over vanity tonight.

And then the bell rang.

"He's here," Emma said, smiling softly at me. "Don't be so nervous, Sara. It's Archie."

"I know," I sighed, exhaling slowly. "I don't know why I'm so nervous."

"You've had lunch, dinner, even breakfast with him dozens of times before," she reminded me.

"Yes, but none of those were labeled as dates," I pointed out. "That label changes everything—it sets a lot of expectations for this one."

"I'd like to say something," she said cautiously. "Just hear me out, okay?"

I nodded but held my breath.

"I believe Archie is the perfect guy for you. He has your best interest at heart, and if there's anyone who would die for you—besides me—it's him. He's been in love with you for so long, yet he's never pressured you, never asked for more than you were ready to give. He was willing to wait."

She hadn't finished. I could see her hesitation, carefully choosing her next words. So I waited, silent and expectant.

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