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Seven Year Itch

Is The Seven Year Itch About To Scratch Out Your Relationship?

Everyone's heard of the seven-year itch. The dreaded stage in a relationship where couples can grow antsy and lose interest. Experts are unsure the cause of this phenomenon. Is it because a couple has spent so much time together the relationship is no longer exciting? Or is it because humans go through a growth cycle every seven years and change is inevitable?

Whatever the cause, for some couples the struggle is real. We at Ardor Magazine decided to hit up a panel of experts, and they gave a list of things to watch out for—the telltale signs your significant other may be cheating.

He takes or makes phone calls in private.

You notice an increase in his work hours or his time spent away from home.

Returns your calls long after you leave a message.

Comes home smelling of an unfamiliar fragrance.

Behavior that doesn't add up.

Your fears and suspicions.

But remember, these experts also caution not to accuse, but to observe. Accusing a partner who is innocent may do lasting damage to an otherwise healthy relationship. Be patient, observant, and note behavioral patterns. Eventually, the cheater will out themselves.

The smell of roast beef and mustard permeated the air as Ali juggled the large take-out bag while trying to open the heavy, glass door. It was whisked open for her from the other side, and she was greeted by a smiling Lucas St. James.

"Ali! What are you doing here?"

Lucas was tall, even taller than her husband who was an inch over six feet, so she had to crane her neck to meet his eyes as he stepped in close, taking the bag from her.

"I came to surprise Garrett with lunch. I know he's been working long hours lately and thought I could persuade him to take a break."

Lucas's smile dimmed. Not a lot, but enough that she'd noticed. "Garrett's not here."

"He's not?" Ali asked, confused. Garrett hadn't said anything to her this morning about leaving the office.

Lucas and her husband had been friends for many years, growing up in the same neighborhood, and Ali had met them both when they'd all attended university together. When Lucas had needed the CEO position in his company filled, Garrett had been the first person he'd called.

They moved farther into the lobby, out of the traffic of people leaving for lunch. "No, um..." He ran a hand through his thick, dark-brown hair. "He had a meeting out of the office. I'm not sure when he'll be back." He was having trouble meeting her eyes, and Ali could tell the conversation was making him uncomfortable.

And that made Ali more than uncomfortable because Garrett's unmentioned absence from the office was just another log added to a fire that was starting to burn out of control.

The last couple of weeks, Garrett had seemed distant, working late nights, taking calls out of the room, and his phone had been beeping like crazy with incoming texts. Ali knew his new job was demanding, and she probably wouldn't have thought much of it had it not been for the damn article she'd read in Ardor magazine. It had drawn her attention to every one of Garrett's suspicious behaviors that pointed to the possibility he was having an affair.

Adding to her mistrust, the article had been entitled, "The Seven Year Itch" and she and Garrett had been married exactly seven years. Coincidence? Maybe, or maybe not, but once the seed had been planted, it had taken root.

Suspicion was an evil thing, festering in the brain, and corrupting like a virus that had no cure.

In all the time they'd been together, Garrett had never given her reason to doubt his devotion to her, until recently.

And now she was left wondering.

"Well, um, I'll just go then." She waved at the bag. "I'm sure you can find someone who will eat that. It's sandwiches from the deli across the street. Roast beef and turkey. Oh, and those great pickles they've got over there."

She knew she was rambling, backing up as she talked, trying to make her escape. She turned on her heel and fled before Lucas could see the glimmer of tears in her eyes.

≈≈≈≈

Ali was in the kitchen, making dinner when shouts of, "Daddy," from the living room alerted her to Garrett's arrival home. Her shoulders stiffened, and she slammed the oven. Having time to stew, her initial upset had morphed into anger.

She was pissed.

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