Page 65 of Absolution

I don’t miss the irony. Kyle probably saved all this shit so he wouldn’t get in trouble for using the corporate card for hisaffairs. Probably never thought his stupid wife would know to check.

I lose my grip when I spot something that looks like a hospital bill. God, don’t tell me he had an STD.

I don’t read them. No time. I just snap photo after photo, documenting the trail. I don’t stop until I hit the very first email.

It’s dated the day after we brought the girls home from the NICU.

My phone buzzes in my hand. It’s a text from Luna; ‘Picked up the kids.’

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Calmly, I switch back to Kyle’s profile, open his history, and delete my activity. Then I disconnect from the Wi-Fi before shutting the computer down. I stand, reposition his chair exactly how I found it, making sure nothing looks touched.

I’m halfway to the door when I double back and peel the post it off the camera.

With time to spare, I slide into my car and start driving. I think about heading to Marianne’s, but I need a printer. I need to have this shit physically in my hands. And the only person I know who owns one?

Cory.

Dammit.

Could I just go to a shop and print them? Sure. But I don’t want to waste time. I drive to his apartment, praying he’s at work. I knock several times, but there’s no sound inside. Good. I use my emergency key.

Is it an invasion of privacy? Yup. Do I care? Nope. Maybe I’ll apologize in twelve years.

I connect my phone to his printer and hit print. 108 pages. Some double-sided. Jesus. Hope he has enough ink.

To kill time, I head to the kitchen, pour myself a generous glass of OJ, and settle on the couch.

Less than ten minutes later, I hear keys fumbling at the door. It sounds like he’s fighting a bear out there. I don’t move, just sip my juice.

Cory stumbles in. Not alone. He’s got a woman pressed up against him, lips locked, already unbuttoning his shirt.

I clear my throat.

They spring apart.

Cory’s eyes are glassy. The girl looks horrified.

“Oh my God, are you married?” she asks, turning on him.

Before he can answer, she slaps him hard across the face.

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea,” she mutters, before bolting out the door.

I take another sip. “She was nice.”

Cory glances at me. “What are you doing here?”

“Can’t a girl visit her brother?”

“I’ve called you a hundred times the past two days.”

“I know.”

The printer hums in the background. He glances that way, confused.

“I needed a printer,” I say.

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