I thought I would hate working 12-hour shifts, but it amazes me how quickly it goes by because I’m so busy. An added benefit to the schedule was the fact that I would get three days off each week instead of the two that most people get.

Getting around the plant was still difficult, and I managed to get lost on more than one occasion, but I was starting to get the hang of it. As promised the night before, Mark was there to help me whenever I got lost.

“Hey, some of us are going out to get a drink. You want to come with us?” Mark asked as we were clocking out to go home.

I have to admit that the offer was very tempting. It would have been nice to have a drink and unwind after a long night at work while enjoying some adult conversation and getting to know some of the people I’d be working with. At the same time, after what had been transpiring at home, I didn’t feel like it would be a good idea.

“I wish I could, but I need to get home. I’ve got a million things to do. Maybe another time?”

“Okay, I’ll give you a raincheck, but I’m going to hold you to it.”

“All right, you’ve got yourself a deal.”

I clocked out and quickly made my way to my car. That drink really could have done me some good, but with the way I was feeling, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stop at one, and I didn’t have a designated driver. Besides, I could just hear Dillon going on and on about me going out with guys after work, regardless of the fact that they were just my friends.

One good thing about my schedule was the fact that there was virtually no traffic on my way home. I remember the days of sitting in rush hour traffic all too well and wasn’t missing them one bit.

As I pulled into the garage, I noticed that there was a light coming through the living room window. I wondered if Dillon had fallen asleep on the couch again. He knew that I hated when he did that and I could see him doing it just to piss me off.

He wasn’t sleeping, though. He was standing in the kitchen when I walked through the door.

“Hey,” he said as I threw my lunch bag up on the table.

“Hey,” I replied, feeling weird about what he had told me all over again. “How come you’re still up?”

“I wanted to stay up so we could talk. I know I won’t be able to rest until we clear the air, so I figure tonight is as good as any time. Of course, if you’re tired, I won’t make you talk this evening.”

In all honesty, I was tired. I was downright exhausted. As I was quickly finding out, there was a ton of walking involved in my position at work. I made a mental note to get myself a pedometer so I could see how many steps I took on any particular night.

Honestly, I was surprised to see Dillon waiting up for me. Seeing him made me wonder if he was still awake for my sake or his. Lord knows it’s been a long time since he’s put my needs before his own.

A large part of me was thankful that he wasn’t in bed. Even though I told him that I needed some time to process what had happened and that we’d talk the next day, I’d already had the past 12 hours to think about it, and I didn’t want to wait anymore. I needed some answers.

“No, it’s fine. I think this is something that probably shouldn’t wait any longer.”

“All right, why don’t we sit down at the table? Do you want some coffee or anything?” he asked.

“Wine. I’ll take a glass of wine.”

He went into the kitchen and poured me a glass of Chardonnay.

“So do you want to start?” he asked, placing the wine on the table in front of me.

“Yeah, I think that will be best. I’ve been thinking about this all night, and I want to know what your end game is.”

“My end game? What do you mean?”

“I mean as far as your fantasy goes, what do you get out of it in the end. What is your end game? What’s your ulterior motive?”

“It’s just a fantasy, Kayla. I don’t have any motives. It’s just something I’ve always wanted to see.”

“If it’s something you’ve always wanted to see, how come this is the first time I’m hearing about it?”

“Jesus Kayla, what the fuck was I supposed to say? Hey, I love you so much, but why don’t we find you a guy to fuck this weekend? We both know how that would have gone. Pretty much the way this conversation is going right now.”

“I call bullshit on that. You’ve never had a problem telling me about any of your other fantasies.”

“Yeah, but those were fantasies that only involved us.”

“There has to be something more to this. I’ve been thinking about it all night while I was at work. Why do I get the feeling that you’re trying to trap me?”

“Trap you? How would I be trying to trap you?”

“I was thinking back to before we got married. Your mom insisted that I sign that prenup because you were going to be this big time doctor and I was going to be nothing but a housewife. I specifically remember there being something in the prenup that says if I cheated on you, I’d get nothing if we got divorced. Is that what this is about? Are you trying to trick me into cheating on you because you want to leave me and you’re afraid I’ll take your money?

“No, it’s not like that at all.”

“Okay, so are you trying to get me to cheat on you so you can hold it against me for the rest of my life? Do you want me to do something so you can somehow make it out to be like I owe you?”

“No, I would never do anything like that Kayla?”

“If that’s not it, then are you having an affair? I know we don’t spend much time together. Are you really at the practice all the time like you say or do you have someone on the side? Do you want me to sleep with other men, so you get a free pass to have an affair? Do you want it so I have no right to say anything about what you do or else I’d be a hypocrite?”

“I’m not having an affair. I don’t want to be with anyone else but you.”

“But it would all make so much sense. Our sex life has been so cold for a while now. If I went out and fucked other men, then you’d have free reign to see whoever you wanted. That’s the only thing that makes sense. If you’re not wanting to set me up for a divorce, then it has to be an affair. It has to be.”