Betrayal

Chapter 25

Warren

I watch the smoke that dissipates from my cigarette.

Everyone left very quickly. Now it's late and I'm by myself. Smoking and drinking by the pool. Thunder is rumbling off in the distance and in the clouds I can see heat lightening. It's going to rain soon. I can smell it coming. I hope it does. It would be a fitting end to the night.

I finish my beer and my cigarette, then stretch my legs out in front of me as far as they'll go. I want to text Ali, but she isn't here. Dominic and her went out after everything settled down. A bonfire on the beach. It's after midnight and I've wanted to go down to the beach and watch the party to just to get a glimpse of her. But I haven't. I've just sat here.

I hover over my phone, over her contact, then turn my phone off. There's a fear in me that maybe she doesn't have her phone or she's letting someone use it and they'll see my text come through. I'm unsure of what she has me under in her phone. I haven't asked.

I should go to bed. I've already showered and I'm very tired. I'm sure Rebecca is already asleep. Maybe I should sleep on the couch in my office.

I lean forward and tightly close my eyes, then press my hands against my face. A shuddering breath leaves me.

I love her. I'm in love with her. I don't know how or why, but it's happened so fast. It makes me feel sick. I keep telling myself to just fucking stop it. End it and forget it ever happened. The thought of doing that makes me even sicker. I'm a married man with four kids and a beautiful wife and I'm in love with an eighteen year old girl. What the fuck has happened to me? How have I fallen so far?

My legs feel heavy as I walk across the house. It's dark and quiet aside from that distant thunder. I check on the kids. They're sound asleep. Lola isn't home. I'm assuming she went to the party with her boyfriend.

As soon as I step into the bedroom, I stop.

Rebecca is sitting on the bed, wearing a white, lacy slip. A book is opened in her hands and she's wearing her reading glasses. She doesn't look up at me until I clear my throat. We stare at one another, but don't speak. I wish I were drunk or at least had a buzz, but I'm not. Her stare is as fiery as it was earlier and it truly looks as though she just can't stand me right now.

"Can I explain myself?"

She shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders, then tosses her glasses aside.

"Go ahead."

"He was touching Alison," I mutter. "I watched him do it. He made some comments about her to me a while back, some very inappropriate things... and I don't know. It was just disgusting. I snapped."

We stare at one another. Her expression is slowly beginning to soften toward me. She was so angry at me earlier. It's been a long time since we've had a fight like that. If I wasn't fucking Ali, it never would've happened. I've known Raymond for years. He's always been this way.

"Do you understand now? It wasn't some random thing I did. He was being a creep. I've had enough of it. He makes comments all the time and I'm tired of listening to it."

"I understand. But you should've told Dominic and let him handle it. It's not a good look for you."

Dominic wouldn't have handled it. I want to say that, but I'm more focused on that last sentence.

"What isn't a good look for me?"

"Defending his eighteen year old girlfriend in such a violent... awful way. She's fragile already, Warren. I've wondered if perhaps she has a crush on you. Sometimes I see her staring at you in this certain way... If she does, what you did could just escalate those feelings."