Page 69 of Crystal Iris
The apartment is completely trashed.
I’m being careful as I step over broken glass when he walks into the living room. There are bags under his eyes. My heart sinks even deeper.
“What happened here?” I ask, taking in the wreckage; everything is broken or disheveled.
“You came back early,” he says, his voice slow and tired.
“We need to talk,” I tell him.
“There’s nothing you can say.”
“Aaron, nothing happened.”
“Really? You expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth.”
“So you’re telling me you went all the way to fucking Montana, and nothing happened?”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me.”
“I’m sorry, I?—”
“We’re engaged, Iris.”
“Aaron, I’m sorry, I should have?—”
“The worst part is that my mother was right all along.” He’s holding a picture.
I notice other photos on the coffee table. I walk closer and see that they’re of…me and Hoyt.
“What is this?” I pick one up.
“Proof.”
“You had me followed?” There are pictures of the airport in Montana, of Hoyt and me at the gala together, pictures of us at the museum…
“My mother did.”
I don’t have words.
“I thought I knew you. I defended you to her... for years. Andshe was right this entire time.”
“Aaron, no. She wasn’t.”
“How long?”
I don’t answer. I’m still staring at the photos of myself.
“How long have you been cheating on me?” he asks.
“I wasn’t, Aaron. I’m not.”
“You’re going to keep lying? You owe me the truth, at least.”
“Aaron, we just talked. That’s it.”
