Page 30 of Jilted

“What happened? Did we lose one of the committee members we needed for the vote?”

He slumped into my chair and ran a hand through his chaotic hair. “Worse.”

“What the hell could be worse than that?”

Andrew looked me in the eyes. “I cheated on Camille.”

I froze. This was the last thing I’d expected him to say. “What the hell happened?”

His head fell into his hands, and he yanked at his hair from the roots. “I was out with some of the guys from the advertising department and went to a bar. Had a little too much to drink and started talking to this woman. I’ve been here for a few weeks, so I guess I was just lonely. None of that is an excuse. I freaking love Camille.”

I sat back in my chair, speechless. “Have you ever cheated before?”

He looked offended that I’d even asked. “No, of course not.”

“How do you feel about the woman you slept with now? After?”

He frowned. “Well, I feel like shit because I didn’t even tell her, at least not that I can remember. But I don’t have any feelings for her, if that’s what you’re asking. It was just a drunken mistake.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I picked up the ring a few days ago. I’m supposed to be proposing on our anniversary in two weeks.”

I leaned back into my chair. “Oh, man.”

“What would you do? Would you tell her or try to pretend it never happened? The woman lives in England, so it’s not like Camille’s likely to find out.”

“I think you’re asking the wrong person. You know how I feel about that shit.”

Andrew closed his eyes. “Jesus Christ, I’m not even thinking straight. I’m sorry. Of course you’d feel like I should come clean.”

“How do you think Camille would take the news if you told her?”

“She’d chop my balls off.”

Andrew’s girlfriend of four years was an assistant district attorney. I’d seen her in action in court once. She was pretty scary for a five-foot-nothing lady.

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, man.”

“I made a mistake, a giant one. She’s going to leave me if I tell her.”

He wanted me to tell him to forget it ever happened, but that wasn’t easy for me. “Did you use protection at least?”

“She had to give me a condom because I didn’t even have one. Camille and I haven’t used them in years.” His eyes grew wide. “What if it was expired? They expire, right? What if I got her pregnant? What if she gave me a fucking disease?”

“Take a deep breath. You don’t look so good.”

His eyes darted around the room, seemingly as fast as his thoughts. “I don’t even have a place to live in New York if she kicks me out.”

“That’s the least of your worries.”

“I’m supposed to fly back in two days. How am I going to face her?”

“Take more time, if you need it. Tell Camille I need you here to work on something. You need to get your head screwed on straight before you get on a plane.”

“She won’t believe me. She’ll know something is off.”

Two years ago, I’d plucked Andrew from the blue-chip law firm he’d worked at for ninety hours a week since graduating law school. I’d promised him a better salary and half the hours, though lately he’d been putting in a lot of time because of the expansion team. Camille wouldn’t think twice if he said something came up. And my levelheaded best friend knew that. He was just having a meltdown.

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