Page 1 of Sweet Dreams

One

As Beth struggled to find the right key, her red curls absorbed the sweet aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg. A smile lingered on her lips as she pushed through the flurry of snowflakes illuminated by the porch light. Finally, she unlocked the door and stepped inside. The only sound in the house was the gentle ticking of an old grandfather clock in the hallway.

"Keith?" She called out for her longtime boyfriend as she took off her coat and hung it up. There was no response. She checked her watch, noting that it was already 6:30 p.m. He should have been home by now.

Beth made her way to the kitchen, her footsteps echoing in the silence. A half-empty wine glass sat on the counter, lipstick staining its rim. Her frown deepened. Keith didn't wear lipstick.

A thump from upstairs made her jump. Then, a muffled giggle.

Beth's heart was racing as she climbed the stairs. Her mind was a chaotic mess, conjuring up worst-case scenarios with eachstep. The bedroom door was slightly open, casting a thin beam of light into the dim hallway.

Another burst of laughter echoed through the room, a deep masculine rumble. It was Keith's laugh, a sound Beth knew all too well. Her hand wavered on the doorknob before she pushed it open, her heart pounding in her chest. The scene that unfolded before her froze her blood in its veins.

Despite being in a committed relationship for three years, Keith was in bed with a blonde-haired woman. His hands gripped tightly onto the woman's hips as he moved rhythmically behind her. Her back arched and head tossed back in ecstasy; she was on all fours, crying out his name in a voice filled with raw pleasure.

Beth recognized the blonde instantly: Gina, the new fresh-faced cashier from Sweet Dreams. Keith grunted and groaned with each thrust into Gina, his muscles straining under the dim light of their bedroom. His eyes were closed tight, lost in his own world of carnal delight.

The sight of them together - Keith and Gina lost in each other - chilled Beth to her core. The sounds of their shared pleasure echoed hauntingly around the room as Beth stood frozen at the doorway, an unwilling witness to their intimate betrayal.

For a moment, the world stopped. Beth stood frozen, unable to breathe, unable to think. Then, as if someone had pressed play, everything rushed back into motion.

"Beth!" Keith scrambled to cover himself, his face a mask of shock and guilt. "I... I thought you were working late."

Gina squeaked, pulling the sheets up to her chin, her wide eyes darting between Beth and Keith.

Beth opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her chest felt tight, her vision blurry at the edges.

"Honey, I can explain," Keith started, reaching for her.

The pet name snapped Beth out of her trance. "Don't you dare 'honey' me," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "How long?"

Keith's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "It... it's not what you think."

"How. Long?" Beth repeated each word sharply.

Gina whimpered, clutching the sheets tighter. "I'm so sorry, Beth. It just happened..."

"Just happened?" Beth's laugh was hollow. "What, you tripped and fell on his dick?"

Keith winced. "Beth, please. Let's talk about this."

"Talk?" Beth's voice rose, hysteria creeping in. "You want to talk now? After I catch you in OUR bed with one of MY employees?"

She turned to Gina, who shrank back against the headboard. "And you. I gave you a job when no one else would. Is this how you repay me?"

Gina burst into tears. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

Beth held up a hand, silencing them both. "I don't want to hear it. Either of you." She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "Keith, pack your things. I want you out of this house in an hour."

"Beth, be reasonable," Keith pleaded, standing up with the sheet wrapped around his waist. "Where am I supposed to go?"

"Not my problem," Beth spat. She turned to Gina. "You're fired. Don't bother coming in to work tomorrow."

With that, Beth spun on her heel and marched out of the room. She made it halfway down the stairs before the tears came, hot and angry. She gripped the railing her knuckles turning white as she fought to keep her composure.

The sound of hushed arguing drifted down from the bedroom. Beth gritted her teeth and stormed into the kitchen. She grabbed Keith's favorite whiskey from the cabinet and poured herself agenerous glass, downing it in one gulp. The alcohol burned her throat, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her chest.

Beth's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a text from Kelly, her best friend:

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