Page 62 of Between Us

Before she could stop herself, her thumb swiped up on the screen, bringing forward the other four notifications. All from the same woman. She read them in the order they appeared, backward.

Please call me, I miss you and I want to talk...

I can't believe you didn't tell me. I thought...

Laney said you got married when I went to...

Hey. You didn't answer your phone earlier when...

No.

Was he cheating on her?

A horrible pressure like an iron claw crushing her ribcage settled in the middle of her chest. Unshed tears blurred her vision as she came to the sobering conclusion that the woman wassomethingto Roman.

The thought that he was being unfaithful was unbearable. Was she someone from his past that he’d gone back to during their separation?

But… Roman wouldn't do this to her. Would he?

She stared at the little white boxes with the hurtfulwords that made her stomach churn and nausea fill her throat, until the screen went black.

“Alessa.” Roman's steely voice made her head snap up. Through her tears, she could barely make out his expression. As she furiously wiped her eyes, he sat up in bed, his narrowed gaze moving toward his phone in her hand. He looked frighteningly awake and aware of his surroundings.

“Give it to me,” he said with a calmness that sounded forced.

Despite her efforts to conceal them, a tear slid down Alessandra’s cheek, then another. As she stared at her husband blankly, she felt white-hot anger engulf her entire being, from her scalp to her little toe. Her brain did a one-eighty so fast she felt dizzy from the sheer violence of the feelings slamming into her.

With a force she had no idea she was capable of, she drew her arm back and catapulted the phone across the room. It hit the far wall hard—so hard it was a miracle it didn’t break apart on impact.

“Fuck you,” she gritted, turning around to flee the bedroom with the pulse hammering in her ears.

Roman caught up to her at the top of the stairs. Grabbing her by the waist, he lifted her up and carried her back into their room.

“Let go of me!” she yelled, struggling to get away. Her nails scratched the skin on his forearms as her legs kicked at the air.

“Calm the fuck down,” he hissed against her ear, not loosening his hold on her. “Want to explain to me what the fuck has gotten into you?”

“Read yourfuckingmessages,” she replied through clenched teeth, her sharp nails still firmly digging intohis skin. He didn’t seem to care.

“Watch your mouth.” He set her down on her feet unceremoniously. Alessandra whirled around to glare at him. She waslivid, nearly trembling with her anger.

Giving her a hard look, Roman bent down to pick up his phone. The screen was cracked, but otherwise the device still looked functional, coming to life instantly when he touched it. He quickly pored over the texts Alessandra had read partially. When he looked up again, his eyes burned with fury. “Is this what made you act so fucking crazy?”

“Who is she?” she demanded, her voice shaking.

“First of all, you are not to touch my phone without my permission. Ever.” He took a step closer, forcing her to take one back. “And second, you should ask me for an explanation before jumping to conclusions.”

That was rich, coming from him of all people. She kept her mouth shut though.

“Who is she, Roman?” she asked again after a moment, convinced she was going to collapse right there on the floor by his feet if he didn’t give her an answer already. She was barely standing as it was.

“Sheis a woman I haven't been in touch with for months.”

“Did you sleep with her?”

“Does it matter?”

“So that's a yes.” His face was all the confirmation she needed. More tears fell as her heart cracked wide open for him to see just how much that admission hurt her. She tried to leave the room again, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her.

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