Page 37 of The Affair
I felt Sawyer move, grabbing his brother by the shirt collar. “Get out. Now.”
A slow smile crept up Reed’s lips, and it was then that I saw my ex-husband in a new light. I used to think we had a perfect love.
That he was my soul mate.
But, now, all I saw was a bully and a cheat.
How had I been so blind to the truth?
I thought if Sawyer hadn’t had him by the throat, Reed would have continued his rant all the way out the door, but instead, he left with what little dignity he had left.
“Are you okay?” Sawyer asked, turning toward my direction the second Reed crossed the street.
Nodding, I tried to will the tears away, but they came anyway. “How do you think he found out?”
Another shrug, so Sawyer-like that it was comforting. “Does it matter? I didn’t know it was a secret that I worked here.”
“It’s not,” I answered softly. “I just didn’t think about how people would see it.”
“What do you mean?”
“That they would think we’re together,” I answered, watching as he took a seat in the wingback.
This time, there was nothing casual about his posture. He sat rigid with his body bent forward over his knees as if he was taking in every word I said with serious contemplation.
“What was he talking about? Something you were going to tell me?”
“Nothing,” he answered. “He was just trying to rile me up. Does this bother you?” he asked rather pointedly. “The idea of us being thought of as a couple?”
My heart skipped a beat.
It should, I thought.But does it?
“I think people believe we’re having some sort of torrid love affair in here.”
“That’s not what I asked,” he said, his eyes finally making contact with mine. So blue. So vulnerable.
So …
I opened my mouth to answer, but the door swung open instead, and the bell chimed.
Our first customer of the day had arrived.
Saved by the bell …
* * *
The secondit became a socially acceptable time for lunch, I called out from the back of the store that I was taking my break and got the hell out of there. It was rare that I actually left the store during the day—aside from running errands—but today, I needed some space.
From Sawyer, from the store, from the whole damn town.
Well, everyone except for one person.
Driving away from Main, I realized I’d never actually been to Candace’s house before. The only reason I knew where it was, was because I knew where mostly everyone’s house was.
Even Sawyer’s.
It was the perk of living in such a small place.
