“No,” Cora nearly shouts. “He hasn’t seen me in anything.”
“Not true. I recall your black bra last night.”
“You told us nothing was going on,” Greer says.
“Nothing is going on,” Cora replies with panic in her voice.
“Babe, is that what you’re telling your friends? You didn’t tell them about how you had your hand down my pants—”
“You can leave now,” Cora says, a combination of mortification and anger flushing through her.
“Uh, no. I would like him to stay.” Stella steps in. “Because it seems as if there has been some information we’re missing out on.”
“There’s no information to be told. Nothing is happening.”
“Then how do I know what you taste like?” I ask.
“Oh . . . my . . . God,” Stella says, turning toward Cora. “What the actual hell? You’re having sex with Pike and not telling us about it?”
Fury flies through Cora’s eyes as she sits up in the booth and snatches the thong from my hand. She points to the door. “You’re excused.”
My work here is done. “See you at home, wifey.” I wink and take off.
Needless to say, she doesn’t talk to me when she gets home.
Nor does she talk to me in the morning.
“How did you sleep?” Cora asks as I walk into the kitchen, freshly showered.
She’s rather . . . jovial . . . this morning, and that’s quite unnerving, especially since she jabbed me multiple times with her foot throughout the night. It’s been her latest idea of trying to get me to give in to her annulment demands—disruptive sleep.
I hate to admit it, but after the fifth jab, I was just about ready to smack her leg away, but I held it together and she finally fell asleep.
“Uh . . . could’ve been better.”
She lifts a mug to her lips, takes a sip, and then presses her lips together. “Mmm, that’s good.” Her eyes connect with mine and she hands the mug to me. “Here.”
I eye her, then the coffee, then I eye her again. “Why are you giving me this?”
“You drink coffee, don’t you?”
“I prefer tea, but yes, I drink coffee. But you don’t ever make me coffee,” I counter.
“Thought I would pick it up on my wifely duties.”
“That’s sexist,” I say. “It isn’t the wife’s duty to make coffee for her husband.”
She rolls her eyes. “Just trying to be a good spouse. You know, since you dropped a bomb on my friends the other night. They don’t understand why I don’t try to stick it out with you, see where this marriage takes us.”
“Remind me to get your friends something nice. Do they like donuts?” I bring the coffee to my lips and take a sip, not a gulp, because, you know, just in case. When all seems good, I take another large sip.
“Don’t worry, their tactics to keep you around didn’t work with me. I still very much want a divorce, but they said maybe if I’m nicer to you, then I’ll be able to get what I want.” She steps up to me and traces her fingers over my chest. “And what I want is for you to no longer be my husband.”
“Shame,” I say before gulping down the rest of the coffee. “Because I don’t foresee that happening.” I hand her the cup of coffee, lean forward, and press a kiss to her forehead. “Have a good day, Coraline.”
On my way out, I grab a protein bar and stuff it in my backpack.
Would you be surprised to know that I don’t trust her? That I don’t believe a single word that just came out of her mouth? There’s no way she’s going to try to be nicer. Not with the streak she’s been on lately. No, she’s planning something. I just have to figure out what exactly she’s planning.
It takes me ten minutes to get to school. I park in the same spot, next to a giant oak tree at the far end of the car park. I don’t mind the walk, and I prefer parking my bike in the shade, even though it’s autumn.
Apparently, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I’m wondering if Cora is going to her brother’s house. Will she take me with her? Not that I have anything to celebrate, but I’ve learned it’s a time for family. Well, I’m family now. In my opinion, anyway.
Once I’m in the school, instead of going to my classroom, I make my way to the science lab and stick my head through the doorway. Keiko is at her desk again, so I give the door a quick rap with my knuckles and ask, “Hey, how are you today?”