Page 37 of Homewrecker

It's absolutely broiling in here now. Someone needs to check the thermostat and make sure the air conditioner isn't on the fritz.

"So what are your plans tonight?" I wipe the perspiration off my forehead with the back of my hand.

"I'm hanging out with my friend Jenny and her girlfriend Luisa."

"Oh, so you're third wheeling it with your couple friends." I grimace like he's the saddest thing ever. "That sounds like fun."

Before he can answer, I flick the sponge at him. He catches it right before it hits him in the face. His expression changes from smug to stunned, and I stride out of the kitchen with my head held high. When he thinks I've gone, I pop back in the room and say, "Better put the soap in the dishwasher and get it started. Otherwise all your anal-retentive work with those dishes will go to waste."

There's nothing quite like getting the last word in a conversation with Seth. It's nearly orgasmic.

* * *

I'mclose to the end of my evening run when the music coming through my ear buds is replaced by a loud ring tone. I pull the phone out of its holder on my bicep to see the name of the caller, and it's no surprise. Dan. Again. I can let it go to voicemail, but I can't avoid him forever. He called this morning during the family breakfast, but I didn't notice the message until later and haven't returned his call. Considering he's called twice in one day, it's safe to assume he's fed up with waiting.

I slow to a walk and answer breathlessly, "Hey, Dan."

"Andie! You picked up. What's going on? I've been trying to reach you for over a week."

"I texted you." My voice is strained from exertion and frustration. "I told you I'd call when I was back in town."

"You've been gone for over a week! How long did you think I'd wait? When are you coming back, anyway?"

I start explaining that I'm not sure about the timeframe of my stay here, but he cuts me off mid-sentence.

"It doesn't matter. We can talk now. I need to know where things stand with us."

Dan's voice has a desperate quality that worries me. Plus, he seems to think there's an "us."

"Where things stand?" My words come out in puffs as I chug up the last big hill before the entrance to the farm.

"You're acting like that night at the bar never happened. We kissed, remember? You can't deny that it was amazing."

I could argue that the kiss wasn't amazing for me, but there's no point in taking a shot at his ego. The important thing is to end the relationship talk so we can figure out what to do about our work situation.

"You're married, Dan. Did you forget? We made a drunken mistake that we both regret, and to make matters worse, Ronnie saw us." I cringe as I replay that moment in my head. "Barb called me the other day, and I was so scared that she knew."

"Does she?" There's real terror in his voice.

"No, she wants us to share a room next year!"

"Why?" he asks incredulously.

"Something about overcrowding, I don't know. I tried to talk my way out of it, but if she finds out what happened between us, both our jobs are in jeopardy, not to mention your marriage. We seriously fucked up."

I bend to slap the mosquito who's sucking blood from my ankle. They seem to like a slow-moving target so I increase my speed to a jog.

"I think we both knew this was coming," he hisses. "You've been flirting with me all year."

I laugh in disbelief. "Oh, so now this is my fault? You followed me to the bathroom and lunged at me. Have you conveniently forgotten that?"

He can't gaslight me. Our flirtation was mutual, and he was the one who took it to the next level. Plus, he's the one who took marriage vows!

"I'm not saying I didn't want that to happen. Hell, Andie, I can't stop thinking about that kiss. That's why when you get home, we need to get together and figure this out."

My mouth drops open in shock. He doesn't regret what we did.

"No, Dan, that's the exact opposite of what we need to do. You need to get some marriage counseling with your wife and figure your shit out. I'm going to try to salvage my career—" A baby cries in the background, and I gasp in horror. "Are you with your kids right now?"

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