Page 18 of Repluse

My eyes have been closedwhile I’ve been reliving the past, but I open them and look down when I feel Sam’s thumb stroking my inner thigh. His head still rests on my lower belly, and he presses gentle kisses against my skin before turning to look up at me.

“You look like a crazy lady,” he croaks through a smile.

“That’s because I am a crazy lady.”

Frankie shifts beside me, and I turn to look at him.

“Morning.” His voice is also raspy with sleep. “You died on your arse again last night, princess.”

“It was a big day,” I tell him on an exhale. “I was mentally drained, then you two physically drained me.”

“Your belly’s making all kinds of strange noises.” Sam completely changes the subject. “Did you eat yesterday?”

“I had some sushi at lunchtime,” I reply with a shrug.

Sam immediately sits up. “That shit won’t keep you going. Let’s get you fed.” He reaches for my hand and starts pulling me from the bed and out from underneath Frankie’s leg.

“So, we’re not fucking again before you go?” Frankie asks.

“No time, I need to eat and leave. I want to check in with Mum before I drive home, and I want to be home before dark because of the roos,” I explain.

Frankie pulls a sad face as Sam leads me out of the room.

After feeding me eggs,Sam drops me back at my apartment, where I shower and wash my hair using the products I have here. I know I’m being extra paranoid, but I don’t trust Logan not to sniff my skin or hair and notice that I smell different.

As soon as I got here, I put everything in my case on a quick wash and then straight into the dryer. Once I’m out of the shower, I leave my hair wet and just pile it on top of my head in a messy bun while I sit in my robe waiting for my clothes to dry.

I didn’t want this quiet time. I’ve downloaded a book to listen to on the way home so I don’t get lost inside my own head, but now, I have at least fifteen minutes of sitting here, thinking about this weekend, my actions, and what the consequences might be if I get caught.

I made no firm plans with Frankie to see him again. It’ll happen when I’m able to make it happen. A lot will depend on how things go when I get home. I’ve rehearsed everything in my head, but what if I fuck up? Just one tiny slip could mean the end of my marriage. What if Logan takes one look at me and just knows?

I slide off the bar stool at the island and go check my reflection in the mirror. Do I look different? Is there guiltreflected in my eyes? There shouldn’t be, because right at this moment, I don’t feel guilty, just nervous.

Instead of driving myself crazy, I go back to the kitchen, pull a couple of boxed cake mixes from the pantry, and set about making a cake to take to Saint McCarten’s while my clothes dry.

With my damphair piled on my head, wearing my favourite, washed and dried, burgundy-coloured Adanola track suit and UGGs, I carry the two sponge cakes into my mum’s care facility. After dropping one off at reception to the care workers, I make my way down to the day room carrying the other.

I almost drop it when I step through the door and see Logan sitting in a chair, holding a mug, chatting away to Mum. Thankfully, I see him before he sees me, and I have a few short seconds to compose myself.

“Hey! This is a nice surprise. What are you doing here?” I plaster a beaming smile on my face as I move towards them.

My husband looks up and smiles for all of ten seconds. Taking me in from head to toe, his smile vanishes, and I know I’m in trouble.

Placing the cake down on a side table, I move closer to place a kiss first on my mum’s cheek, then Logan’s. As I lean into him, his hand moves to my hip and grips me so tightly, I know it’s going to leave a bruise.

“What the fuck are you wearing? Why’s your hair wet? UGGs, Mila? Fucking UGGs outside of the house?”

He releases his grip, and I straighten.

“My golf finished early, and as I was close to the city, I thought I’d call in and see your mum. I thought you’d already be heading home,” he says, wearing a fake smile.

Has he been to the apartment, I wonder? Does he know I wasn’t there all night? All weekend? All I knew was that he wasplaying golf. I didn’t think to ask where. This is the kind of rookie error that’s going to fuck me up.

I pull the chair on the other side of my mum a little closer and sit almost facing him.

“No, I was here most of yesterday and it left me feeling drained. You know I don’t sleep well when I’m on my own, and all of that meant I ended up oversleeping this morning.”

His blue eyes are narrowed on me. “Yet you still had time to bake a cake?”

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