I stood outside the door and listened to her yell at me to come back, and then sob, my own tears running down my cheeks. I listened to her cry long enough that the hallway grew dark as the sun set, the dim hall lights replacing the bright glow of the sun.

I wanted to go back inside, wrap my arms around her, and tell her I’d stay. I loved her. Despite everything she’d done, I still wanted her. But I couldn’t stay. If I did, nothing would ever be the same. I wanted the old Chloe and Quinn back, but they were gone, a ghost of who we used to be left in their place.

What I’d said had been true—I couldn’t trust her, I would wonder every time I wasn’t with her what or who she was doing. I couldn’t live like that, no matter how much I still wanted her.

Everything was so clear now. All the times she’d fought me about having a threesome again, never wanting to hang out with Carson and me, the late nights at work—everything made sense. How had I been so blind? How had I never noticed the way they looked at each other? All the times Chloe must’ve lied to my face played over in my mind. But she really wasn’t a very good liar. I should’ve picked up on something sooner. It shouldn’t have taken four fucking months. I loved her so much, I never thought anything like this was possible. Whoever said love is blind had it right.

God, I was such an idiot. All these years I’d thought my best friend and my wife being so close was a good thing. Fuck, was I wrong, and now I’d been betrayed by the two people I loved the most. I had never questioned why she had chosen Carson to have a threesome with, but even that made sense now. My stomach churned, and I felt like I was going to be sick.

I finally turned and walked away, unsure when I’d be back. I would have to get my stuff at some point. I’d need to find a new apartment and file for divorce. Divorce? My heart broke a little more at the thought. I had really thought she was it, the one I would spend my whole life with, maybe have babies with, get old and gray with, but now it was all gone. None of that would ever happen.

“Jesus Christ, how did we get here?” I murmured to myself, and ran my hands over my face. The elevator dinged, announcing my arrival on the ground floor. The doors slid open, and I lifted my head and looked into the face of the man I had once considered a brother.

---

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I sneered.

“Quinn ... I ... I...” Carson stumbled over his words.

“You what? Didn’t think I’d be here? Didn’t think I’d catch you coming to fuck my wife?” I lunged out of the elevator at him. Our bodies collided and flew backward. “How could you?” I yelled.

We crashed to the ground, and I felt the air heave out Carson’s chest. I got two punches in before Carson caught his breath and blocked me. But I didn’t stop—just kept swinging, punching every surface I could connect with—yelling the whole time.

“How could you do this to me?”

“You were like my brother!”

“You could have any woman you want, and you had to have her? Why? Why did you have to have her?”

It took me more than a minute before I realized Carson was barely fighting back. He was blocking me enough to keep me from breaking his nose, or doing any major damage, but for the most part he was just lying there, letting me use him as a punching bag. It made me even angrier that he wasn’t fighting back.

I rolled off him and rested with my head between my knees, my breath coming in short bursts.

“Quinn,” Carson said. I couldn’t look at him. I might go ballistic again. I wanted to inflict as much pain on him as he had on me. I wanted to rip his world to shreds, until nothing was recognizable, like he had done to mine. I pushed myself to my feet. I wasn’t going to stay here. Carson and Chloe deserved each other, fucking liars and cheaters.

“Quinn,” Carson said again as he stood and blocked my exit.

“What can you possibly have to say to me?”

“I’m sorry.”

“God, did you two practice your apology speeches together? I don’t give a fuck if you’re sorry. There is literally nothing you can say that will justify what you did. My wife, Carson! You were my fucking best man at our wedding! How could you do this?”

“I’m not going to stand here and give you some half-assed apology speech about how I wished it never happened, and tell you that if I could go back in time I’d change things, because that’s bullshit. I’d do it all again tomorrow if I had a chance,” he said. I inhaled sharply, and our eyes locked. He wasn’t lying, which, at the very least, was appreciated. I was tired of being lied to. “I tried to stop more times than I can count, but Chloe…”

“Don’t,” I said. “Don’t stand here and tell me about my own fucking wife, like I don’t already know. You are disgusting, both of you.”

“I know, and you’re right. I came here today with every intention of being with Chloe. I thought you’d be at work.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I couldn’t understand why he was still talking.

“Because you’re my brother.”

“Were,” I corrected. He winced, like the words physically hurt.

“I deserve that, but before you leave and never speak to me again, you have to listen to me.”

“Why should I listen to you? How am I supposed to know every word you say isn’t a lie?”

“Quinn, she still loves you. She doesn’t want me.” He shook his head like he couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of his own mouth. “I’m the one who started this. I pushed her when I shouldn’t have, kept coming back when she tried to keep her distance. It’s my fault.”

“Come on!” I yelled. “Don’t make her out to be innocent here. She participated willingly, for months.”

“I’m not saying she’s innocent, but when she says she still loves you, it’s true.” Carson exhaled deeply. “I can’t believe I’m about to tell you this, but I asked her to leave you. Asked her to be with me. You know what her response was? She slapped me, and then threw me out. That was two weeks ago, and I haven’t talked to her since. She won’t answer my calls or respond to my texts. She doesn’t want me.”

“Am I supposed to feel bad for you?” I balled my fists at my side. The fact that he had asked her to leave me made me want to tackle him again. How had I ever thought he was my friend?

“No, man, but you should think twice before you do something drastic.”

“Something drastic? You mean like having an affair with my best friend?” I asked. “That’s what she did. It doesn’t matter what you say, I’m not giving her a second chance. She doesn’t deserve that. Neither of you do.” I pushed my way past Carson and out into the parking lot.

“Have a nice life, Carson,” I said. “Actually, have a shitty life … I don’t really care anymore.”