One Door Closes

Chapter 7

Part of me wondered whether he's able to feel guilty about his actions or that he simply doesn't care, but when I see his face, I can tell that it's eating him up inside. All of the sudden, he looks exhausted.

The dim light of the bar highlights the bags under his eyes. He's leaning against the wall, slightly slumped, and he puts down his glass.

"I know I haven't been good to you," he whispers and wraps his arms around me. "I love you, too. I promise.. I promise I'll be better."

As he holds me in our embrace, I subtly retrieve Regina's phone from my pocket at with one touch on the screen, I send the photo to Graham.

"I'll be there for you, Emma. I won't disappoint you anymore. You're right that I haven't been paying a lot of attention, that's mostly because of that big case, but I have a feeling that's going to be over soon."

He thinks Regina is cheating. He hasn't seen the photo I sent him yet, but it's going to mess with his mind. Regina is standing far enough for us to see her, but also for us to be unable to really study her. It could be possible that it was someone else. It isn't, but we're going to make Graham think that.

Graham kisses me and takes a sip of his drink. Then, he grabs his phone. I pretend not to notice and instead look at Regina. She's hitting it off with a different man, now. The other guy has noticed the microphone for karaoke.

It's mesmerizing to watch her. She doesn't play. She goes straight for the win. She knows she's attractive and she uses it to her advantage. Her hand slowly slides up the man's thigh and I can tell that she isn't merely doing this to get back at Graham, she's genuinely enjoying herself.

"What?" Graham sounds confused and I know he's received "Regina's" message. I pretend to share his confusion and cock my head. "I'm sorry, Emma, I am so.. so sorry, but I need to go over something in my case. It's very complicated, because one of the people is accused of domestic abuse all of the sudden, which gives the divorce a whole new level. I have to go back to the firm."

"Okay." I don't object. I'd anticipated this. "I'll pay our drinks and then I'll drive you to work."

Graham mutters something as he stares at his phone. I walk to the bar and look behind me to see Graham aggressively typing something. I subtly put the phone back in Regina's pocket. "We're going home," I whisper. For a moment, she breaks the kiss, gives me a nod and continues with the man.

Oh, no, my car doesn't work! What a disaster. At least, that's what I pretend. I try and try to get the engine started, agitating Graham beyond anything. He keeps telling me to do it differently. I pretend to take in his advice and continue faking the damage to my car.

In my rear view mirror, I can see Regina's black Mercedes taking off. I turn to Graham and sigh. "Let's walk, then."

"No, let me try."

"Absolutely not. You had twice as much to drink as I. I didn't consume alcohol, remember?" It's not true, but he doesn't know that. I had one glass at Regina's. "I'll walk you to your firm."

His face turns white. "You don't have to."

"Yes, I do. Plus, this way we'll get to spend a little more time together."

"After work, I'll immediately come to your home." He sounds sincere, but he doesn't know Regina sent me an invitation to come over to her place. I don't tell him. I let him come to my house, I don't care that I won't be there.

I'm certain the building is closed. Graham will have to explain himself and I can continue pretending to be upset and confused. I care very little about that, though. If he starts walking to Regina's, now, she won't have a lot of time cleaning off the bar and making herself look as if she's been working the entire night.