For The Love Of Clair

Part 10- Enzo

I came home around 12:00. Robyn had just gotten out of the shower. I smiled as she approached me at the door, wearing her dark blue silk robe and her arms opened perfectly for me to fit right in them. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and looked up at me, greeting me with a kiss. I put my arms around her and just turned all my attention toward her. She's my wife and I'm her husband. It should be like this all the time. I smiled into her eyes, loving the amount of attention she was giving me.
"How was your night last night?" she asked.
"It was good, just chilling with the guys at Jake's place. Got really drunk and Jake took my keys. I'm sorry I didn't text you" I said, kissing her cheek.
"Don't worry about it. I was too drunk too" she giggled. "I don't even remember how we got home last night." she said before grabbing my hand and leading me to the kitchen.
"We?" my face tilted at her. She stopped and turned to look at me.
"Oh yeah. One of the girls from the party came and stayed the night here because she didn't want to wake up her roommate when she went home. Apparently the roommate is a big bitch" she continued walking to the kitchen and began to cook breakfast for us. She was so sweet and caring. I almost forgot why I asked her to marry me. But after this morning of laughing, talking, bonding, I learned to love my wife again.
The conversation I had with the guy's last night really helped because now I know what I need to do. I need to leave things with Clair and work on my relationship with my wife. My marriage. After we finished eating breakfast - sunny side up eggs on toast and beef sausages and hash browns- Robyn started doing the dishes.
"I'm going to hop in the shower. We are leaving around 6, right?" I said as I kissed her on the top of the head.
"We are going somewhere tonight?"
"Yeah, My parents' place for dinner."
"Oh yeah, that's tonight. Sure, we can leave around 6." she smiled. I laughed a bit at her forgetfulness and then went upstairs. I flopped on the bed and closed my eyes.
I took a deep breath and a familiar scent shot up my nose. The lavender, coconut scent was too familiar for me to brush it off. The scent belonged to a person who had beautiful dark brown hair, and eye's that made you feel so comfortable you would want to spill your guts to them. The hands of an artist who learned from her mother and specialises in self-portraits. The person lives in a colourful apartment for someone who works in business. The person is Clair.
I haven't really thought of her all morning but her scent, in my pillow, made me stand up quickly and try to clear my mind. Was I imagining it? I smelled the pillow again and the scent was still there. Robyn's Friend. She had someone here last night. Did they sleep in the same bed? Was Robyn's friend Clair? I couldn't ask this- of course- so I just decided to keep my mouth shut until I was able to talk to Clair at work tomorrow. But how would I ask her if she slept in my bed without telling her about my marriage and how I've been cheating on my wife with her?  I decided to just keep my mouth shut in general. I couldn't say anything to anyone.

***
"So son's, I think we need to have a drink. It's been too long since we've been together." Dad pulled out the whiskey and started pouring. He'd just gotten back from his business trip and that means we all have to sit around and listen to him ramble about how business went from this past week.
My brother, Cameron, had no interest in business so he scrolled on his phone while my dad told stories. When dad went outside for his smoke break I scooted closer to Cameron to talk to him for a while. My parents would call Xameron the disappointment of the family just because he doesn't find interest in business. But I'm quite happy he is my little brother, he's really successful and my parents don't give him the time of day.
"Who've you been texting all night, kid?" I've been bugging him about girls since the day he was able to hold a phone. He's had a girlfriend in highschool for three years but they broke up before graduation. My parents didn't know any of this because they don't pay any attention to him. It was my duty as big brother to always give me my undivided attention.
"Cassey" he said with a smile, he didn't look at me and continued to look at his phone. I nearly spat out my drink.
"You're dating again?"
"Yeah, we've been going out for a while now, i just never had a chance to tell you"
"Congratulations my baby brother" I messed his hair up playfully. He proceeded to tell me about his new girlfriend who he met on his university campus. He smiled a lot when talking about her long blond hair and her perfect green eyes. He said that she reminded him of Rapunzel. I laughed and encouraged him until my father came back and I had to go back in my corner and pretend to listen about the importance of standing your ground  and fighting for what you believe in. Cameron scoffed a bit at the "fighting for what you believe in part".
"What's so funny Cam?" Dad looked at him.
"Nothing," He said. "Just that you gave me shit for fighting to be a writer" he mumbled. Dad pretended not to hear and turned his attention back to me.

As dad went back to rambling Robyn came to sit next to me. She moved into me as close as she could get.
"Your mother just told me she wants us to have kids," she whispered. My eyes shot wide as I looked at her. "Like now" she finished.
"What did you tell her?' I said, trying to make my facial expression calm down.
"What could I tell her? You know your mom, she doesnt stop talking, even if there is a fire," she giggled. I sighed and looked back in my father's direction. We were in no place to be having a child. Our relationship is struggling because of me. She could possibly be best friends with the girl I cheated on her with, and can't get out of my mind.

During dinner I tried my best to stay quiet and to myself. Which was difficult considering the fact that my parents praise me and always want to talk about me. I was saved by the phone. My phone began to ring and I saw Robyn begin to lean forward to see who it was. I looked at it and read Clair. My eyes shot open and my mouth wanted to smile but I contained myself. I grabbed the phone before Robyn could read it.
"Who's that?" Robyn asked. I told her it was work and rushed into the other room to answer the phone.
"Hey" I said, finally letting my smile out.
"Hey, so I was thinking.." she started. "We should go out for lunch tomorrow on our break." she said. I smiled. My heart was beating out of my chest and I loved that she still wanted to hang out and be around me.
"I'd love to," I said.
"I'm sorry if this is crossing that line you were talking about when you came over that day. It's just, you are the only friend I have there and I don't know the city well enough to wander alone for lunch" she said with a giggle. I laughed back.
"For sure, I'll show you some of the greatest places to eat this week. Your Australian taste buds might not be able to handle it." I laughed.
"Great!" she giggled. "I can't wait."
"Me too", there was a long pause before she spoke again, as if we were both fishing for words to say.
"Ok, Enzo. I'll see you tomorrow." I could hear the smile in her voice.
"See you tomorrow, Clair" I said before hanging up. I pulled the phone away from my ear, happy that she called. Happy that I heard her voice. And happy she still wants to be close with me.
"So..." Cameron's voice scared me. I looked at him as he sat on the couch smiling at me. "Clair?"
"You're not going to say anything right?"
"I mean, considering the fact I'm your brother, I don't think I have much of a voice here."
"So you're not going to tell?"
"No, man." he stood up and walked closer to me. "But can I ask you something?" He put a hand on my shoulder and I already knew what his question would be. What the fuck are you doing, man? I decided to just answer it before he even asked.
"I don't know what I'm doing man" I flopped down on the couch. "I just feel like a mess these days. I love Robyn, don't get me wrong. She's an amazing wife and definitely deserves better than me. But with Clair." I began to smile but then noticed Cameron would analyse it and think I am some terrible human being- which I kinda am. "She just makes me feel like I'm in highschool again. All the sneaking around and stuff. It's just different."
"As your brother, I am here to tell you that..... You are an ass"
"Thanks!" I rolled my eyes.
"You need to leave this Clair bitch alone, I mean it. Robyn is such a sweet lady who is always there for you and very good with our parents. She is understanding and empathetic and-your words,not mine- hot as fuck." I smiled and giggled a bit. When Robyn and I first started dating I would talk about her a lot to Cameron and always mention how hot as fuck she is. "You just seriously need to focus on your marriage." he patted my back before sitting next to me.
"You're right. But I can't just leave Cair. Clair is just so...."
"If you say hot as fuck I will tacke you to the ground"
"But it's the truth." he rolled his eyes at me.
"Why did you feel the need to cheat anyways?"
"If you say Clair, you would too."
"No, man. Because I'm good to my girl. If you were a good human in a relationship, let alone married for four years, you would look at every other woman like they were a man."
"What?"
"Let me speak Enzo" he sat up tall. "When you are seeing a woman you have to have the mindset that she is the only woman in your life- other than your mother of course. Imagine all the other women out there are secretly men" he cupped his canst around his mouth and whispered, "They have men parts and man boobs" I began to laugh and Cameron joined in.
"I really do wonder what goes on in your head, you know that?"
"Don't we all?" he smiled proudly. "Just leave Clair and go back to your wife please" he stood up and walked away.