Page 11 of Fault Lines
“Livi? You’re still up?”
“Rach was here.” I stood my ground. “She just left.”
He set his briefcase on the nearest chair. The sight of it made my skin crawl. Was it all just for show? Just another prop for his lies?
“We need to talk, Cam.”
A flash of surprise in his eyes; he braced himself against the back of the chair. “What’s going on?”
“I know you’re having an affair.” The words hit the air before I realized I’d actually spoken them.
He blinked. “What?”
“I know it’s Lacey. I know it’s not just work anymore, Cam.”
He said nothing, just watched me.
“I saw your text messages, Cam. And the night you had dinner, she lied to me. She said she hadn’t seen you, but you said she was there. Why would she lie, if there wasn’t something to hide? Were you on a date?”
He gripped the chair, dropped his head, and let out a shaky breath. “It’s not what you think, Livi, but you’re right. We need to talk.”
He walked past me to the kitchen.
“What are you doing?” I followed.
“We’re going to need a drink.”
“I don’t want a drink,” I said, teeth set.
“You’re going to want one.”
I sank onto a stool, all my dread welling up. This was it. The big confession. “Wine for me,” I tried, weakly.
He shook his head, already pouring two glasses of scotch. “You’ll need something stronger.”
He set mine in front of me. I sipped it, the burn catching in my chest. He knocked his back and poured another.
“I’ve been avoiding this for weeks,” he said. “But I have to say it.”
“So say it.”
He took another drink, this one slow. “I haven’t been having an affair.”
I stared. “But the messages... the lies...”
“She’s been pursuing me, yeah. Flirting, really pushing. And I’ll admit, I sent a couple texts that got out of hand. But I haven’t touched her; no dates, no kissing. Nothing physical, Livi. I promise you.”
“Then what is going on, Cam? Why did you vanish? Why haven’t you touched me?”
He swallowed; his voice cracked. “Because it hurts, that’s why.”
“You don’t love me anymore?”
His gaze snapped up, fierce and bright. “Don’t ever say that. You are my whole world. I love you, Livi.”
Tears were streaking down my face now, but I held onto his hand. “Then why are things like this?”
He looked so lost; I’d never seen him like this before. “Ever since the doctor told us… you know… I lost my vision for the future. I always wanted a family, a big one. That’s how I pictured us. Now all I see is this blank wall. I got stuck in it and couldn’t get out. And I guess I started looking for a way to feel different.”
