Page 5 of He Doesn't Deserve You

Staring out the window, Emily fought the urge to cry as they rode in silence. They had driven about a mile when Sydney suddenly pointed at a car approaching them in the opposite lane. “Look! It’s Gabriel. Do you want me to stop?”

“No. Keep going.”

Glancing over at her friend, Sydney asked, “Are you sure?”

“If he wanted to talk, he should have come home at six. He knew we were leaving at seven.” Emily’s voice was curt. “Just go.”

Just then, Emily’s cell phone rang. She retrieved it out of her purse and rejected Gabriel’s call.

“You should at least hear what he has to say,” Sydney urged gently.

Emily rolled her eyes and turned away, staring out the window once again. The miles passed in silence, and about a half hour later, after Emily had managed to rein in her emotions, she finally spoke up.

“I can’t believe he’s having an affair,” she said in disbelief and sorrow.

Sydney raised an eyebrow. “Do you have any idea who it might be?”

“No, not really,” Emily sighed. Then a thought struck her. “There is an assistant from his office who is always flirting with him. Do you think it could be her? No, she’s so young. Gabriel wouldn’t be with her.”

Sydney gave Emily a skeptical side-eye, causing Emily to reconsider her words.

“You think?” Emily asked hesitantly. “She’s barely twenty-one.”

“I wouldn’t rule her out,” Sydney stated.

Emily pulled a printout of the credit card charges from her purse and unfolded the papers. As she scrutinized the list, her eyes zeroed in on numerous Victoria’s Secret purchases. A wave of nausea washed over her, and she winced in pain.

“There are so many purchases for lingerie.”

Sydney slammed her fist against the steering wheel. “That son of a bitch. I’m going to kill him!”

Sensing Sydney’s feelings of guilt—after all, she had been friends with Gabriel for years and had introduced them—Emily offered a reassuring smile. “It’s not your fault,” she said gently.

“If I hadn’t seen the proof with my own eyes, I would never believe that Gabriel was having an affair. I’d be telling you that you’re crazy and just being paranoid.”

Twenty minutes later, Sydney pulled the car into the hotel valet parking area and popped the trunk. They both got out of the car, and Sydney politely accepted a ticket from the parking attendant, saying, “Thank you.” She retrieved their luggage from the trunk, and they made their way inside. After a swift check-in process, they were handed two keys to room 4101.

Sydney immediately took Emily’s luggage from her and handed both of their bags to the bellhop standing beside the registration desk. “Could you please put these in room 4101?”

“Certainly, miss,” the bellhop said with a warm smile.

“Thank you,” Sydney said, handing him a five.

Grabbing Emily by the elbow, Sydney pulled her toward the bar. “Come on. We need a drink.”

For the next hour and a half, they sipped margaritas and nibbled on appetizers while Emily confided in Sydney about the dire state ofher marriage. The conversation was abruptly interrupted when Sydney received a call from her husband, Mark.

“Hello.” Sydney placed her hand over her ear to block out the noise from the bustling bar.

“What? Slow down, I can barely understand you.” She stood up from her bar stool and stepped outside, seeking a quieter spot.

When Sydney returned a few minutes later, the stricken look on her face immediately alerted Emily that something was wrong.

“What’s the matter?” Emily asked, concern evident in her voice.

Sydney tossed her phone into her purse and slung it over her shoulder.

“It’s Kevin,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “He fell, and Mark is taking him to the hospital. They think he might need stitches. I have to go.”

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