Secret Love

The Talk

"Hey baby, how are you?"

I looked into the eyes of my fianceé, the man that up until a few days ago I'd been certain I wanted to marry.

"Hey," I said softly letting him pull me into his arms for a hug. "I've been okay, how about yourself?

"I missed you," he whispered lovingly wrapping his arms tighter around me.

My stomach churned, "I missed you too."

"Where's your friend?" Tom asked pulling away but keeping my hands in his.

Funny you should ask

"She's... in the shower."

"Oh." He said quickly turning his attention back to me.

"How's my baby?" He asked gently cupping my face with his large fingers and lifting my chin to meet his gaze.

"I'm good." I replied smiling weakly.

"Did you get enough sleep last night? You look tired."

"Only a few hours. I was up... um... studying." I replied quickly removing myself from his grasp and walking towards the dining room table.

"Coffee?" I asked to fill the silence.
"Please." He replied removing his jacket and taking a seat at the table.

Breathe Elise.

"How was Detroit?" I asked returning with two mugs of steaming coffee.

"The conference was a  huge success, we're looking at three more potential sponsors for the school."

"That's amazing Tom! Congratulations."

"If it keeps going like this we'll have a brand new private school for our boys in the heart of NYC in less than five years." He replied with a gleeful chuckle.

The happiness on his face made my heart flutter.

"That's amazing love, I'm so happy for you."
"He winked at me over the rim of his mug as he took a sip of his coffee."

I took a deep breath.

"Tom..."
"Yes?"
"I need to tell you something.."
"Anything." He said putting his mug down and grasping my hands across the table. "What's going on?"

"Nadia is... Nadia is more than a friend." I began.
He looked at me curiously, silently urging me to continue.

"I love her, I'm in love with her and... and she feels the same way."

Tom said nothing but removed his hands from mine and crossed them diligently in front of him.

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"When?" He asked "When did you know?"

"I've known I loved her since we were kids... I just didn't know in what way."

He said nothing.

The tears I'd been trying so desperately to hold back overflowed, I didn't resist.

"Tom please understand I never meant for this to happen... A couple weeks after she got back from California she told me how she felt and I just... I couldn't deny my feelings anymore."

I was sobbing now. Straight Wendy Williams ugly crying.

He gently met my gaze. Pain and understanding showing in his face.

"So where does this leave us?"

"I don't know." I replied honestly.

"I love you too, Tom, I do. I just... I don't know what to do."

He looked back at me silently from across the table. A mixture of emotions fluttering across his face.

Just then the door to my bedroom opened and Nadia poked her head out.

"Enough room for one more?" She asked smiling nervously.