After yoga, I pick up a tea instead of my usual latte. Although I had looked for Ethan, he wasn’t around this morning, leading me to believe he’s at home, probably upset.

I sip my tea leisurely, checking my watch every few seconds. I’d agreed to meet Kyle at a nearby café on the main street in ten minutes. I know my bed will be delivered after two today, so I need to make this brief. I really don’t want to spend another night on the sofa.

Sighing, I take a few more sips of my tea, then place my unread newspaper under my arm. I had every intention of reading it, but every time I laid it out on the table, the words didn’t even register. Once I get this little meeting out of the way, I hope I can relax a bit.

Picking up my empty paper cup, I throw it in the bin before walking out into the cold air. It’s another freezing one today, so I don’t plan on staying out long—if I can help it.

Seeing as I’m a little early, I take my time, rushing bodies bouncing into one other as they pass. I smile, glad I’m not one of them, but then a knot forms in my stomach. I hate that I feel this way. Kyle was the one who destroyed our marriage, so why am I so nervous?

As I continue walking, I look at the woman in front of me, her long blonde hair flowing, her arm linked with a man’s. I immediately think of Sarah. From the back, it certainly looks like her. She’s called me several times since turning up at my doorstep yesterday, but I ignored every single one. My voicemail got so full, I deleted it altogether. If I’m not taking any of her and Kyle’s calls, I’m certainly not going to listen to their voices.

The couple stops, staring into a shop window. As I near, I narrow my eyes when the lady points to something. She turns her head slightly to the side and my breath catches. It is Sarah, but who is she with? Surely it’s not...

Then he turns, immediately catching my eye. My breath hitches again as we stare at each other. Disappointment curls inside at the thought Ethan’s already forgiven her. I don’t know why I feel that way, considering they both have nothing to do with me anymore.

Then I remember the baby. A million thoughts cross my mind. Will they think I’ll still honour our agreement? Will they still expect me to give up this baby, even though Sarah betrayed me so markedly? I haven’t had much time to think about it since I found out, but it’s at the forefront of my mind now.

As I near, Ethan smiles, but it soon fades when he spots how unhappy I look. When I turn to Sarah, all I can see is fear written across her face. As I step closer, her look implores me not to make a scene.

“Fancy bumping into you here,” Ethan says, smiling again. “I haven’t heard from you in a couple days. I hope everything’s okay.”

When I look at Sarah briefly, she mouths, Please. I want to show her how disgusted I am, but not in front of Ethan. By the looks of things, he doesn’t even know what happened.

Then it hits me. Sarah didn’t want to see me yesterday to apologise for what she had done. She wanted to beg me not to say anything. Ethan looks way too happy for a husband who has just found out his wife’s been cheating on him.

“I’ve been busy,” I explain. “The weather hasn’t been too good lately, so there have been a lot of accidents and leaks to attend to.” I smile, seeing relief flood Sarah’s face.

Ethan notices my rucksack. “Been working out this morning?”

Feeling really awkward all of a sudden, I nod. “Yes. If I can help it, I try not to miss a Saturday.”

He looks at Sarah with a smile. “I was going to this morning, but Sarah practically begged me to come shopping with her instead.”

I wonder why.

Smirking, I look toward my former friend, but she turns her head away—a sure sign of guilt. She knows Ethan and I regularly bump into each other at the gym on Saturdays.

“Pick up anything nice so far?” I ask.

“No, but I’m sure Sarah will find something. She normally does.”

I grit my teeth. The immature bitch in me wants to make a snide comment about her spending her husband’s money. I always thought Sarah loved Ethan, but I’m not so sure now. To me, it seems as though she only wants him because he’s a safe bet. Someone who is secure and can keep her in a comfortable way of life.

“I thought I saw you.”

I snap my head to the voice to see Kyle walking toward me. He smiles and throws an arm around my shoulders, as if nothing has happened. Instinctively, I pull away. Kyle frowns, and Ethan furrows his brows. Sarah just stands there, looking anywhere but at us.

I look at Kyle and see the moment he realises Sarah and Ethan are still together. Suddenly, he smiles. “I see all is forgiven.”

Ethan frowns. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” I say, tugging at Kyle’s jacket. “You wanted to talk, so let’s talk.” I turn to Sarah and Ethan. “Enjoy your shopping.”

I notice the confused look Ethan gives me as I storm off. I know he needs to hear what his wife has been up to, but he certainly doesn’t need to hear it on a busy street.

“What was that all about?” Kyle asks when he catches up to me. I don’t say anything. I just want to get to the café and get this talk over with. “It looks like Ethan has already forgiven Sarah. Why can’t you forgive me?”

Stopping, I turn to him. “Because there’s nothing for him to forgive.” I turn, walking the rest of the distance to the café.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Opening the door, I scowl at him. “Use your brain, Kyle. Or is it still lodged tight in your dick?”

I walk through, noticing the shocked expression on his face. Ignoring him, I sit at the nearest table. Immediately, a waitress walks over, asking what we would like.

“Can I get a Coke and a BLT?” Kyle asks.

She jots it down, then turns to me. “Can I just get an orange juice? I’m not planning on staying long.” Noting the tension, she gives us a half-smile as she takes our menus, then rushes off.

“Why are you being like this?” Kyle begins, having the nerve to look affronted.

“Being like what? Like the wife who’s recently found out her husband has been cheating on her? I’m sorry. Please, tell me. How am I supposed to be?”

As his lips thin into a hard line, he leans forward, making an attempt to grab my hands. I place them in my lap. “Look,” he says, exasperated. “I know I fucked up...” I give a little huff. He remains silent for a few seconds before speaking again. “But we can work this out. I’m sure we can. Now that this is out in the open and friendships cut loose, maybe you and I can get over this baby stuff and start concentrating on us for a change.”

I glare at him. This is the one of the reasons I wanted to do this in public. Kyle doesn’t like making scenes, so he’ll rein himself in as much as possible.

“Kyle, don’t you think all we’ve ever done is concentrate on us?”

“Not lately. All you can think about is babies this and babies that...”

“When have I ever brought up babies with you lately? I know how sensitive you are on the subject, so have deliberately kept my mouth shut.”

He sighs. “You know what I mean. You haven’t been there.”

I close my eyes. I’m so tired of this. I don’t want to argue with him anymore, but he berates me so much, I want to bite back. For years, I’ve put up with his domineering ego and I’m sick of it. “You mean I haven’t been there as your sex slave recently?”

Kyle snorts out a laugh. “You’ve never complained before.”

That’s it. I slam my hand on the table and sit up straight, shocking Kyle in the process. “That’s the thing. I’ve always hated it, but as the dutiful wife I was, I never complained. Never once did you think about me and what I wanted out of sex. You just went in like a bull in a china shop, not caring whether I wanted it that way or not. You may laugh, but I was your sex slave.”

Kyle’s face turns ashen. He sits for a few seconds, looking baffled. I would laugh if the situation warranted it. Unfortunately, in this particular case, it doesn’t.

Finally, he swallows, the look of defiance coming back. “You were a virgin. How could you possibly know what you did and didn’t want? I was the experienced one. The one to teach you all there is to know.”

I almost laugh, but the waitress walks up, placing our order in front of us. We quickly say our thanks and I wait until she leaves before speaking again.

“So, because I was a virgin when we met, you think that gave you every excuse to be lazy?”

“Yes,” he blurts, shocking us both. “I mean, no... Why are you trying to put words into my mouth?”

“I’m not trying to put anything into your mouth. Maybe that’s the problem.”

He frowns, obviously not getting the joke. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I sigh, shaking my head. “Nothing, Kyle. Nothing.”

His frown deepens, then he huffs out in anger. “Anyway, we’re veering off-topic. When are you going to get over this so I can come home?”

I don’t believe this man.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. “I can’t do this anymore. I want out.”

His face is a picture of confusion. “Want out of what?”

I stare at him for a moment before finally biting the bullet. “Out of our marriage.”

His eyes widen in shock. I know he wasn’t expecting that. “I fucked up, I know I did, but I can be a better man. I can change—”

“It’s too late,” I interrupt. “I’m not happy.”

He leans forward. “I can make you happy...”

At that moment, I decide to tell him something I only realised when I caught him in bed with Sarah. “I don’t love you anymore.” I start to wonder if I ever did.

“You don’t mean that,” he huffs. “You’re just angry. You’ll come around again.” He scoots his chair farther in. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you a few more days. How’s that? I know you asked for them. I’m willing to grant you them until you come to your senses.”

Sighing loudly, I shake my head. “That’s very thoughtful of you,” I respond, sarcasm dripping in my voice.

Kyle beams. He obviously didn’t catch it. “See? I can be a reasonable man. We can’t give up six years of marriage just like that. We belong together. I truly believe now that Sarah and Ethan are out of the picture, you and I can get back on track.”

I stare at him a moment, realisation dawning on me. “You did this deliberately, didn’t you?”

He frowns. “Did what?”

“You slept with Sarah so this would happen.” I point to him and me. “Oh, my god. It all makes sense now. If I don’t have Sarah in my life anymore, all I have left to count on is you. Am I right?”

Kyle looks away before answering. “All you need is me.”

I gasp. “I can’t believe you. You would seriously destroy a friendship just so you could have me all to yourself? What kind of person does that?”

“Sarah could have said no, but she didn’t, did she?”

I can’t take anymore. Grabbing my bag, I get up, shocking him again. “You’re wrong when you say you can change. Someone like you never will. But you are right about one thing. Sarah didn’t say no. And someone like that,” I say, glaring into his eyes, “doesn’t deserve to be in my life.”

When I start to walk away, he says, “But we haven’t finished talking.”

“I’ve said all I need to. I’ll be in touch.”

I swivel on my heels and march out of the café. I know he’ll want to run after me, but will have to pay the bill first. That’s why I take quick, decisive steps toward my car down the street.

For the first time in a long time, a genuine smile forms on my face.