Page 30 of Lust in Translation

“Whichever you want, Kendall. Whichever you want.” It’s a horrible idea and I know it, but that doesn’t stop me. Nope. Me and bad ideas are thick as thieves. “I’ll have him come over at six.”

“Looking forward to it.” Adam spins back around, but I can see his scowl reflecting in his computer monitor. Deciding against further discussion, I leave the office, rubbing my arms to quell the goosebumps that prickle my skin.How can I be so stupid?

I pop my head back into his office. “Adam.” I lean my head against the door frame.

He grunts. “I can have him bring his girlfriend over. Would that be too many people for one roast chicken?”

He turns once again and his face has changed completely. “I’ll run out and get a second chicken. What for a side? More green beans?”

I smile widely. “That would be amazing. Thank you.”

He beams back at me. “You going to sleep in our room tonight?”

I wink at him. “Let’s make that happen.” I close his door, and this time I’m shivering for another reason.

Give and take.

_______________

Leo doesn’t bring Avery. But he does bring a big bouquet of yellow flowers. Wildflowers. My favorite kind since childhood. A fact Adam honed in on straight away. He eyed me as I put them in the same vase a bouquet of flowers he gave me not long ago came in. I try my best to play at indifference as Adam’s irritation grows.

“Avery couldn’t make it?” Adam calls out, as he watches me fluff the stems. Leo replies politely and then resumes his conversation with Juliet. Adam slaps a palm on the counter and stalks up behind me. His breath is hot on my exposed shoulder. The off-the-shoulder shirt is something my best friend pulled out of the back of my closet. It’s light pink, and the last time I wore it was college. I think. Adam drops a kiss on my exposed skin, and I try my best not to let it bother me. Focusing instead on evening out the flowers.

“You look beautiful,” Adam whispers. “I remember this top.”

“Thank you. I’m glad someone remembers it.” I chuckle a bit under my breath. “I must have had too much to drink when I wore it last because I don’t remember it at all.”

I catch Leo’s eyes, through the big bouquet. He’s staring at Adam and me. Fury. Lust. Desperation. I see all of it. Can feel it rolling off him like heat waves. I flick my gaze away quickly. “I can’t wait to take it off you tonight.” Adam kisses my shoulder again, voice a harsh promise.

This is exactly what I meant when I told Juliet of the hot moments sprinkling into the dark, cold matter of our marriage. They’re so out of place. Forced. “Hey, we have company,” I say, spinning out of his grasp to set the vase on the island. A line appears between Adam’s eyes. I wink at him. That doesn’t ease his annoyance. I should be annoyed. I lost that right, I guess.

I grab a beer from the fridge, offer my darling husband one, and walk straight into Juliet and Leo’s conversation. About soul mates. I choke on a sip of my drink and I let out a nervous laugh as Juliet asks, “I mean it, though. What is it about someone that makes them a soul mate? I don’t know that I believe it.” She pauses, looks at me, wincing a little. “I’d like to believe it, but even you acknowledge it’s a hard sell.”

Adam wanders over. My heart leaps into my throat and the fight or flight response practically bowls me over. “Appetizers?” I nearly shout.

Leo turns to look at me, smirking. Juliet jumps, and it looks as if my voice has actually frightened Adam. Leo turns to give his attention back to Juliet and says, “When you have a person. Friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, whatever. Then life, by whatever means, gives that same person a purpose in your life. That makes a soul mate.”

Juliet nods. Adam guffaws. He walked over after the question was asked, so he doesn’t know what he walked in on. “Well, this is a deep conversation,” Adam says, swigging his beer. I drain mine.

Juliet, bless her heart, keeps on. I’ll kill her later. “What if the purpose isn’t a healthy one?”

“Then they’re not soul mates. That’s an easy one.”

If I tell them both to shut up, I’ll look like I’m uncomfortable with the conversation, which I am, so I make the decision to join in when the time arises. Leo looks at me, and then to Adam. “When did you both know that you were soul mates?” he asks.

Juliet shuffles, looks down, and excuses herself to get another beer. She asks if anyone else needs one before she goes.

“I’m afraid I’ve had a few too many of these to speak on soul mates tonight,” I say.

“Come on, Ken. When did we know?” Adam says, clearing his throat. I’d think he’d be just as anxious as I am for a change of subject. “Was it when you peed on the stick or was it when you dragged me to the courthouse?” Adam laughs, and raises his beer, waiting for Leo to clink bottles with him. He doesn’t. Leo leaves Adam hanging awkwardly and it’s both pleasing and terrifying at the same time.

“That’s rude,” I counter.

Juliet butts in. Easy to leave, but eager to defend me when need be. “That was a dick thing to say. Your circumstances aren’t like everyone else’s. Don’t put her on the spot like that.” Now would be the time to remind her she’s the reason we’re talking about this awful subject to begin with.

“Feeding off what Callaway said,” Adam edges. “What’s my purpose in your life?”

This is test day. It’s multiple choice. I didn’t study. The plan was to mark B all the way down the Scantron and pray for a miracle. I shrug, and offer a meek, “To make me happy.” That covers all the bases. I take Leo’s empty bottle from his hand and walk back to the kitchen.

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