“You’re going to stay the night?” he sounded alarmed. “Ben is okay with that?”
“I’m going to stay at a hotel.” I gritted my teeth as I added yet another lie to the cover.
What’s one more lie in the grand scheme of things?
“Okay…” he said slowly, “Can you tell Mel to call me tonight?”
“Sure.” I agreed quickly and wrapped up the call just as I heard the sound of an engine roaring down the street.
Sounds like jackass has arrived.
16-Melanie
For the first time, I was grateful that Ben had wanted such a flashy car because I knew he was coming as soon as he hit our street.
“Alright, he’s here… thank you.” I said quickly and ended the brief call.
I had just finished my shower and thrown on some clean but comfortable leggings and a baggy hoodie when his tires hit the driveway. I looked around the room that I had shared with my husband and took in the small details that showed that proved he had been here too. His slippers poking out from under the bed, his robe hanging from the back of the door, his golf hat sitting on top of his dresser, and the photos of us together scattered around the room.
“Melanie…” Griffin called from the bottom of the stairs just as the pounding started on the front door.
“Showtime,” I mumbled to myself as I stepped out of my room and prepared myself for what was waiting just outside my home.
“Melanie!” Ben yelled and pounded the door again.
I looked at Griffin, and he reached out for my hand.
“Follow me. I’ll open the door and step out with you right behind me and then you will close the door behind you. You don’t have to let him in if you don’t want to.” Griffin mumbled and pulled me along behind him as we approached the door.
Ben was mid-knock when Griffin yanked the door open and quickly stepped into Ben’s space, forcing him to take a step back. I followed just as quickly, and the loud click of the door's lock engaging could be heard over Ben’s flustered “What the hell, man!”
“What do you want?” My exhaustion was evident in my voice. While I hadn’t uncovered everything that my darling husband had been doing behind my back, I had seen more than enough today that even without my morning sickness, I would’ve been feeling ill.
“Why is my code to the front door not working?” Ben ignored my question and glared at Griffin as if he were the one who had done something wrong.
“I changed it. Your key will still work.” I replied, but didn’t offer an explanation.
“You know I don’t carry my key!” Ben snapped.
“That sounds like a you problem.” I snapped back. He looked alarmed and swallowed down whatever he’d been about to say next.
“Is there something that we can do for you?” Griffin asked with a condescending smile. He knew that the word we and theimplication that Griffin had more rights to the home than Ben did was going to infuriate him.
“This has nothing to do with you.” Ben growled, “Out of respect for Kyle I’m going to ask you politely to butt out.”
“Respect for Kyle, hmm?” Griffin’s tone shift was subtle, but the anger in that small sentence hinted that Griffin knew just how little respect Ben had been showing his best friend.
Panic flashed across Ben’s face, and his eyes darted to look at my face. I said nothing and kept my face blank.
“Should we ask Kyle what his thoughts are?” Griffin pushed and leaned against the closed door with his arms crossed. He was the picture of “unbothered,” but I knew inside he was steaming with rage.
“This is between my wife and me.” Ben tried to sound assertive instead of panicked.
“What do you want?” I repeated. I was still standing to the side of Griffin, although our poses were very different. My arms were crossed, but as if I was holding myself together with a hug, and I could feel that my shoulders had started to slump forward. I was going to need to sit soon.
I glanced around the porch and internally screamed at the bland entrance, void of all seating that my husband had insisted was “aesthetically pleasing”.
“Front steps are for making an impression, not for entertaining guests… the back porch can have all the seating you’d like but a front porch should only have two well placed planters for packagesto be hidden behind.” Ben informed me as I eyed a stunning porch swing.
