Chapter 9
I waited until midnight for Drew to call me back, or even text. During that time I went through a myriad of emotions—worry and annoyance first—before finally settling on just plain anger.
Ultimately, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was just tired after his long day and had simply crashed early. Still, my mind refused to settle until well after 2 AM.
It was about eight the next morning when Drew video-called me. I had half a mind to ignore it, but then that would make me just as bad as him.
"Hey, baby." His usually vivid eyes looked tired and slightly red, and his hair was a little tousled. I could see wait staff moving around behind him and deduced that he was in the hotel restaurant.
"Hi."
He winced at my flat tone. "I'm so sorry I forgot to call you. I basically face-planted in bed after dinner."
Okay, so he still went out to dinner. Surely, it wasn't hard to text me that he was back in his room and to say a quick goodnight? But now wasn't the time to call him out on that. I had to pick my battles.
"That's okay. I figured as much. How are things? Ready for your final day?"
"Yeah. I can't wait to come home. I miss you."
There was something off about his tone. It was guttural, as if something agonized him. His eyes had also dropped from mine. "I miss you, too. Are you oka –”
"Let's go out to dinner when I get home. A date night."
I frowned at the desperate pitch in his words. A date night was something we hadn’t had in a while. Something I’d been wanting to do with him again. I should be excited. "Uh...yeah, sure. But are you –"
"Hey, Drew, here's your coffee."
My stomach bottomed out at that high-pitched voice, the color leeching off my face. I hadn't heard that voice since Drew's holiday party. But I’d recognize it anywhere.
The look on my husband's face said it all. He'd been caught.
"Oops, sorry, are you on the phone? Oh, it's a video call." Carly's face came into view, and she gave me a cheery wave and a wide smile. "Hi! Frankie, right? Do you remember me?"
Drew jerked his phone away and stood, a clear panic in his wild gaze. The scenery behind him blurred as he rushed for privacy. "Frankie. Fuck, baby, I'm sorry about that."
The fact that he was apologizing at all both terrified and angered me. He knew Carly would be there. And he never planned on telling me.
"You lied to me." There was no emotion behind my voice. It was low and flat, my jaw barely moving.
He shook his head, his eyes becoming much more lucid than when he first called. "Frankie, I didn't find out 'til late. I know you don't like her, so I didn't want to worry you."
"I have to go."
An irritated puff echoed through the speaker. "Frankie, it's not a big deal."
I hung up before I said something I'd regret. I didn't want to hear any more of his bullshit excuses. The song Gaslighter by The Chicks ran through my head. Because that's what Drew was doing, wasn't it? Gaslighting me. Acting like nothing was wrong, and I was making a big deal out of nothing. Because nothing was going on. Right?
My phone lit up with his call again, but I declined it. My phone beeped a minute later.
Drew: Seriously, Frankie? Fine, whatever. See you when I get back.
A sob was ripped out my throat before hot tears streamed down my cheeks. In moments like this, there was only one person I needed.
I hopped in my car and drove to Columbia where my dad still lived. He was my hero. My safe space. Drew used to be that for me.
"Hey, sweetheart, this is a surprise." My dad's face fell when he spied my red-rimmed eyes and downturned mouth.
"Honey, what's wrong?" He quickly enveloped me in a hug, and I sank into his embrace, comforted by the scent of cigars and aftershave.
I shook my head. "Nothing. Just a hard day at work."
"Well, we all have those, honey, but not enough for you to drive two hours over here."
My smile was shaky—he knew me so well.
After a cup of tea and a sandwich, dad turned on Breakdown . It was our favorite movie, and I'd always had a thing for Kurt Russell. Drew resembled a young Kurt—except with brown eyes. Unfortunately, that meant I couldn't enjoy the movie because my husband was all I thought about.
Dad cleared his throat. We'd been sitting in silence now for over an hour. "So, how's Andrew?"
Dad was the only person who called him by his full name. My mind flashed to the last person to call him that—Carly.
My mood soured further, but I kept my expression neutral. I came to dad’s in a fit of heartbreak, but now that I was here, I didn't want to worry him with our marital problems. He worried enough about me, and I constantly fretted about him being alone out here. I'd even asked him to move in with us, but he'd refused.
"He's okay. He's in Charleston for the weekend at a travel expo." With his beautiful co-worker who clearly wanted him.
But did he want her, too?
"He'll be back tomorrow."
I'd been looking forward to his return, but now I was dreading it. Dreading the inevitable argument we would have.
"Well, that's good. I worry about you being alone in that big house."
"I'm fine, Dad," I assured him.
He gave a noncommittal sound before turning the volume up again. We continued to watch the movie in silence for about twenty more minutes before dad cleared his throat again.
"If you ever need anything. If that man of yours ain't treating you right. You come straight to me, you hear?"
Tears pricked the corner of my eyes as I stared at my dad's profile. He wasn't one for emotion or long talks about our feelings, but I could feel the love and care radiating off him. I was his baby, always would be, and no matter what, I could always find my safe haven with him.
"I know, Dad."
I just hoped that I didn't have to take him up on his offer.