Page 2 of Recipes for Life

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me, my voice sounding completely devoid of emotion. It must have sounded off even to her, because she looked at me with a hint of terror wrapped in it.Good. I refused to break eye contact. If I wanted answers, I might as well just ask her. Clearly, I'd never be able to trust anything Murphy said again.

"How long?" I held her eyes, not bothering to glance in Murphy's direction. As of five minutes ago, he was no longer my husband.

"Three months."

"Leave, Helen, now," Murphy bellowed in rage, and I could see he was shaking.

"No, Helen, stay. I'm not finished asking questions. Did you know he was married?"

"Yes"

"Did he come on to you, or did you come on to him?"

"It was mutual."

"Hmm."

Murphy got in between us before I could ask any more questions. My line of sight to her was now blocked, but that was fine—I had heard enough, anyway. She had nothing to lose, and I believed every word she said.

"Odette," he said in a commanding tone that I once used to love, but now just makes my skin crawl. I've never wanted to be so far away from someone before. Every single physical feature of his that was supposed to be mine, he gave to her. He was tainted now, like that last margarita you shouldn't have drunk, so you spent the night throwing up in your toilet.

I couldn't help myself; I openly gagged at his closeness. He smelled likeher.He flinched at my reaction.

"Let's go home so we can talk about this." I saw the desperation in his eyes, I saw that he knew if he let me walk out this door without him that he'd never get his chance. He knew me; he knew what this meant, and I knew my husband enough to know that he was scared. I could admit that I was a submissive person, especially in the bedroom. He must think that his dominant personality will override my heartbreak, and I'll cave.No, not with this.

"No."

"Odette, you don't understand..." The crack in his voice almost had me on my knees, and I could have caved in at that moment. He was my whole world since I was sixteen, we just added Lux to it. My heartbeat is for them.I almost caved.

I heard a snicker, and that snapped me back into the right frame of mind. He must have seen my resolve on my face, the wall that immediately went up. His face almost crumpled before turning to rage.

"I thought I told you to leave..." He turned to face Helen, and I took that as my opportunity to escape, but not before hearing her words on my way out.

"What's the big deal, Murphy? You said you were no longer in love with her, that you had a baby too young...that Lux changed everything..." I couldn't make out any more sentences but heard the words, "Regret, stopped loving," multiple times as I fled.

I heard Murphy roar at her to just shut the fuck up, and then I heard him roar my name as I closed the door of the apartment behind me.

Chapter 2

Odette

I made it to my car and onto the highway before I realized I was crying, and my body was shaking. Knowing I shouldn't be behind the wheel, I took the next exit and hunted for a gas station where I could park.

My mind was racing, and the last hour was playing on a vicious repeat: the candles, the music, my husband's naked body covering another woman's. At least I had seen a condom on his half-flaccid dick when he pulled out of her, but that still didn't stop the vomit which rose, and I couldn't push it back down this time. I opened my car door as my stomach contents from at least the last twelve hours spilled over the concrete. I had a fleeting thought that I should drive to Susan’s and pick up Lux, but one glance at myself in my rear-view mirror and I knew that wasn't an option. My hair looked greasy from me running my hands through it, my eyes were red-rimmed from my tears, I was ghastly pale, and snot was everywhere—I wasn't one of those girls who looked gorgeous while crying. In fact, it was the exact opposite; I puffed up like a balloon, and every part of my face turned a splotchy red. If you didn't know me, you'd probably think I was a strung-out junkie.

Nope, just a woman who found out that the man she devoted almost the last decade to was nothing but a cheat and a liar.

My phone was ringing in my bag on the passenger's seat, and a quick glance at the caller ID had me dry heaving again. The word "Husband" flashed across it mockingly, and I needed to come up with a plan. I needed to call Wynn.

I quickly sent off a text to Susan.

Hi Susan, just letting you know there has been a change of plans. I'm spending the night with Wynn; I'll give you a call tomorrow morning and iron out the details on when I'm coming to pick up Lux.

My hands were still shaking as my finger hovered over Wynn's contact. I hesitated, because once I told someone else, it would make this real.Realthat my husband cheated on me for months,realthat I heard his girlfriend explain all he told her—he wasn't in love with me anymore, we had Lux too young and it changed everything.

My husband had officially made me an outsider in our own marriage. He sought comfort, sex, and emotional support with someone else. I couldn't help but gag.Again.Tears pooled at my eyes, and I let out an anguished scream while I beat my hands on the steering wheel.I hate him, I hate him.I hate that he made me feel this way, I hate that he ruined our marriage beyond repair, and I hate how he could ever utter those words about the one thing Ithoughtwe would always agree on, Lux. She was the most important person in the world. I'd willingly lay my life on the line for her, no questions asked. I used to think Murphy felt the same way about her, aboutme...but clearly, I was so very wrong. Resolve took hold and I hit the call button.

She answered on the third ring, her voice smoky, a bit like honey mixed with sin. "Hey, sis, bit late for a chat? Lux keeping you up?"

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