He Took A Secret Trip With His Lover—And Came Home To Nothing

of us, it’ll be a hassle. So you don’t have to come.”

I stopped breathing.

“I don’t have to come?”

“Right. It’s easier this way. You hate the heat anyway.”

I didn’t hate the heat. I’d never said that. He’d invented a preference for me because inventing preferences is easier than admitting exclusion.

“Richard, this is the third time—”

“Look, I’m busy. We’ll continue reading …