Once I’ve calmed myself, I go back to cleaning the house. Danni is sitting at the island, watching me as I scrub the counter with so much effort, I might wear a hole in it.

“Kris?” she calls my name as she laughs. “I’m pretty sure it’s clean.”

I stop and sigh. There’s so much I want to tell her. The fact is, Danielle has always been the one I run to when something happens. I share everything, and I’m dying inside to tell her about last night. It’s killing me, but I worry about saying anything.

Not because she might not approve but because if this comes to some battle in court, I don’t know if telling her is right.

She moves over beside me, placing her hand on my shoulder. “It’s going to be okay.”

I look up, opening then closing my mouth.

“You’ve got that look . . .”

“What look?” I play dumb.

“The I’ve-got-a-secret-and-it’s-killing-me look. Spill it.”

I drop the sponge in the sink and face her. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

“Because?”

“How opposed are you to perjury?” I test her.

Danielle throws her hands in the air before they fall to her legs, making a loud slap. “Oh, dear God!”

“I’m asking hypothetically here.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Hypothetically?”

If we speak in the abstract, maybe I can share. “Yes, hypothetically, what would happen if someone kissed someone?”

Danielle’s eyes widen. “Would that someone be asking because that someone is worried about a possible issue with a divorce?”

I shrug. “Maybe. I mean, this someone could just be asking because she’s curious if that’s considered cheating in the eyes of the law . . .”

Her smile grows, and she tilts her head to the side. “From what Peter says about the law, it’s only intercourse that is considered adultery.”

I nod. Well, at least I’m good there. I’m slightly glad that my life-altering kiss can’t be used against me, but then again, I’m glad Scott is even stupider than I thought. There’s nothing I’ve done wrong. “Good to know. What if she went out for . . . say . . . a dinner with a client?”

“Dinner is not adultery. Did your friend attend this dinner recently?” Danielle pushes.

“She did.”

“Did she happen to see someone she knew?” She grins.

“She might have.”

Her jaw drops. “Is your friend trying to kill me? Your friend has done nothing wrong by what you’ve shared so far.”

“My friend appreciates the advice.”

Danielle laughs. “Your friend is welcome. Your friend should also know that it’s only during the marriage and if the friend used joint finances to facilitate her affair. At least that’s my understanding.”

“Well, my friend is totally in the clear.” I bite my lip and wait. “She’s not having any intercourse with anyone.”

Danielle is ready to burst out of her skin, dying to know more. “Please tell me your friend kissed Noah Frazier, and that’s who we’re talking about!”

And there she blows.

“She did!”

“Holy shit! How? How does this happen to Heather and then yo—ur friend? Did I miss the hooking up with celebrity course in high school? Does Heather know? Oh, God, was it amazing? It looks like it would be amazing. Those freaking lips, man.”

I pull her to the table and fill her in on the whole thing. Clearly, she knows it’s me, and I’m almost giddy while I tell her the events leading to the amazing kiss. Her head falls to her fist as I tell her about the dance on the beach. She laughs when I explain the night at Heather’s and then my random singing in the car.

My body feels as if I’m floating when I go into details about the kiss itself. Seriously, normal men don’t kiss like that, and if they do, I’ve been missing out.

“You know what I hear through this whole thing?” Danielle asks.

“What?”

“My friend is back.”

I run my hands through my hair. “I don’t know what you mean . . .”

Or at least I don’t want to admit what I think she’s saying.

Danielle leans forward and touches my leg. “You’ve been a shell of the girl I’ve known my whole life. I don’t think I knew it until now. When was the last time you were silly? When was the last time you sang in the car? Drank and danced? Were allowed to choose something you wanted and actually got it?”

I close my eyes with my head dropping down. “I don’t want to think about this.”

“I know you don’t. I just want you to hear yourself. You may not see it, but I do. In the last ten minutes, you came to life. My best friend was finally here.”

Tears begin to pool. “I never left.”

“Scott took you away.”

“No—” I start to deny.

“Listen to me, you were the happy one out of the four of us. Nicole is crazy. Heather is dependable. I’m the cynic. You were the one who smiled. Captain of the cheerleaders, homecoming committee, and . . . I forget all the other crap you did. It doesn’t matter. It was you that kept us grounded, but he put you in a box, Kris. He made you smaller until you fit into what he wanted, and I’m so sorry I let that happen.”

I look at Danni, the one who never cries but who currently has tears in her eyes. “Danni,” I say softly.

“No.” She wipes her face. “I didn’t say anything. I thought you were happy. You weren’t, though. Nicole would push to say something, and I’d shut her down.”

“You couldn’t have swayed me.” I try to assure her. “I loved him. I wasn’t ready to leave.”

She nods. I hate that she’s trying to take even an ounce of the blame for this. The reality is that until I was ready to be done, I would’ve stayed. They only would’ve made me angry by trying to get me to see what was happening, and my first reaction would have been to defend him. I really had believed it was my fault, that I wasn’t good enough.

“I could’ve tried.” Danielle looks away with shame.

“I love you for that.”

“I love you for it all.”

I pull her into my arms and rub her back. “Who knew your black heart could shed tears?” I joke.

This at least gets a laugh out of her. “I’ll deny this ever happened.”

“There’s my girl.”

“You’re going to be happy again, Kris. I know it. Don’t let Scott rob you of anything you want in life. If you like Noah, go for it. If you want to sow your wild oats, do it. No matter what, I’ve always got your back.”

I’m beyond blessed to have the relationships I have. “It’s too soon for me to date.”

“Says who?” She scoffs.

“I’m not even divorced yet!”

Danielle rolls her eyes. “Who gives a shit? There’s no timer on recovery. If you like him, why can’t you date him?”

“Do you remember why you showed up here in the first place?” I remind her.

“Did your friend screw anyone while she was still living with her husband?”

We’re back to the friend thing again. “No. Never. She was loyal to a fault.”

“Then, I’ll get complete clarification, but she should be fine. And the only thing we’ll worry about is if she’s insane for walking away from a guy that looks like that!” She points to the file folder with Noah’s picture on the front.

The doorbell rings, and we both stand. I’m excited to see my kids, but I know who’s waiting with them—him.

I look to Danni, who nods. Here we go.

When I open the door, Aubrey’s smile causes me to forget all the worries I had. She’s the bright light in this dark storm. “Mommy!” Her arms are wide, and I scoop her up.

“I missed you so much!” I bury my nose in her hair and breathe my little girl in. “Oh, did you eat vitamins and grow?”

“No!” She giggles. “I’m the same.”

“Finn!” I crouch low, and he puts his arm around my neck. “Hi, buddy.”

“Hey,” he says with a huff. “Can I go to my room?”

“Sure.” I kiss his head, not caring that he’s too cool for it anymore.

Aubrey gives me another squeeze as I clutch her tight. I don’t think I truly allowed myself to feel how much I missed them. My heart feels so full having my babies with me.

I look over, and Scott’s frame fills the door. “Hi,” I say as I put Aubrey down.

“Hi. Right.” He snorts.

The urge to roll my eyes is strong, but I shove it aside. He thinks he has something, and he has no idea that I know. “Honey.” I squat, taking Aubrey’s hands in mine. “Why don’t you go take your bag to your room and put your things away?”

“Okay, Mommy.” She looks back to Scott and rushes toward him. “Bye, Daddy.”

“Bye, baby. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

Her head drops, and she nods. “I love you.”

He kisses her head. “I love you.”

At least he can still be a good father. I stand here with my hand over my heart as she rushes to the back, giving us a moment.

“Have a good weekend with them?” I ask. My goal is to lead the conversation.

“I did. I hear you had a great weekend, too.”

“Did you?”

I’m not giving him a damn thing. He wanted a divorce, he can deal with the actuality of what that means. My life is no longer his damn concern. “So, I’ll see you in two weeks.” I place my hand on the edge of the door, but he doesn’t take the hint.

“How long have you been seeing another man behind my back?” Scott folds his arms across his chest.

I let out a short laugh. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, however, two days ago you were saying how we needed to meet at a neutral location to”—I lift my hand and make air quotes—“keep things separate.”

He glares at me. “Ha! You admit to fucking another man behind my back? How many times? Is that why you refused me so many times?”

I hear someone clear their throat from behind me. “Oh, hi, Scott,” Danielle says with a sweet tone. “How are you doing?”

His eyes meet mine and then go back to her. “Danielle, I didn’t know you were here.”

I turn my back to him. “Scott is under the impression I was unfaithful.”

“Unfaithful?” she says with shock. “That’s crazy.”

“I know.” I look back, meeting his eyes. “Especially since it was him who had a bunch of questionable texts, long weekends, and large gifts on the credit card for his co-worker.”

There’s no way I could miss the flash of awareness that plays across his face. Yeah, that’s right, I suspected.

She tsks. “Why would you ever think she was having an affair?”

He cracks his neck and mumbles under his breath. “Tell me, Kris, how was your date with Noah Frazier?”

“You mean my meeting for the article I’m writing?” I hope he feels like the idiot he is. “I’d really love to talk, but I have company and need to get the kids settled. Thanks for dropping them off.” I move forward while I push the door. He is either going to move or the door will close on him . . . his choice. “You can pick them up on Wednesday from Danielle’s for your weekday dinner. Bye, now.”

He moves backward with his mouth open. “Are you—”

“See you soon,” I say when there is less than an inch of space.

The satisfaction rocks through me. I’m not the meek little housewife he wanted. I’m on my own, starting over, and I’ll be damned if his voice will fill my head anymore.

Danielle stands there with her fingers on her lips. “Wow,” she breathes.

“Was that bad?”

“No, that was epic.”

I fall into the chair, feeling drained but proud. I stood up to him. I didn’t fall apart or try to explain away his accusations. Maybe Danielle is right and I’m getting the old Kristin back. One that has been smothered and refuses to stay down any longer.

Watch out world.