Ayden
As I drove, my mind was still reeling from the confrontation with Trinity earlier that night. The look of conviction in her eyes made me wonder just how much she had figured out. Had she known about my plans to divorce her all along? How did she remember my infidelity with Jennifer? My thoughts were a jumbled mess as I tried to piece together the puzzle that was my failing marriage.
But then, a honk from a nearby car snapped me out of my thoughts. I realized that I had swerved into oncoming traffic, narrowly avoiding a collision. I glanced in my rearview mirror and saw the angry face of the driver I had cut off. He was yelling and cussing at me, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. My mind was consumed with thoughts of Trinity and the mess I had created.
I thought back to the moment at dinner when Trinity had stormed out. Her face had been a mixture of anger and hurt, but there was something else there too. Something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It was as if she knew something that I didn’t, and it made me feel small and insignificant.
As I continued to drive, my mind wandered back to that moment over and over again. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Trinity had the upper hand in this situation, and that made me feel powerless. I knew I had to do something to take back control, but I had no idea what that was. All I knew was that I couldn’t continue down this path of destruction any longer.
I slammed my hand against the steering wheel, the sound of my own anger echoing in my ears. As I drove, my phone lit up on the dashboard, revealing Jennifer’s name.
“I took in a deep sigh. “Sup, babe,” I said, feeling exhausted.
“How’d it go? Did you talk to her about the divorce?” she asked, her voice filled with anxiousness.
“Nah,” I hissed.
“Why the fuck not?” she exclaimed, her voice getting higher.
I couldn’t let her know that Trinity had caught on to our affair again. “It’s complicated,” I said, trying to avoid the question.
There was a brief pause before Jennifer spoke again. “Ayden, what the hell is going on? I need to know what’s up.”
“I swallowed the large lump in my throat. “She knows, okay? She knows about what happened to her at the trip. I’m not sure how.”
“Wait... hold the fuck up! How the hell did Trinity remember that shit? Don’t tell me you’re going soft and went to confess everything to her. Man, you trippin’ right now!”
“Listen up, Jennifer, don’t come at me like I’m some kind of punk. I ain’t stupid, I know what I’m doing. But when Trinity confronted me about that night and seeing the text from you, I was straight up dumbfounded. I couldn’t even deny it, I was so damn shocked.”
“Do you think she knows about...” Jennifer trailed off.
“No, I don’t think so. At least, she didn’t say anything about that. Look, I need to go. I’m pulling up in the driveway. We’ll talk about this later, all right? You’re on the car phone. I’ll see you tomorrow, same time and place, all right? I love you.”
“Okay, handle that. I love you too,” Jennifer replied.
I hung up the phone, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I couldn’t believe that Trinity remembered the incident from that fatal night. What was I going to do now? How much had she found out, and how was she going to use that against me? I couldn’t shake off the feeling that she was now two steps ahead of me. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts, but they kept circling back to Trinity’s look of certainty which she shot me when she confronted me at the restaurant. It was like she could see right through me, and I didn’t know how to handle that.
As I approached home, I couldn’t help but notice the two police cars parked at the end of the street as I was talking to Jennifer and that’s why I ended the call abruptly. My heart rate picked up as I wondered what could have happened. Were there burglars in the neighborhood? Did someone get hurt? I thought about calling Trinity, but I knew she wouldn’t pick so I tossed my phone back in my pocket as I alighted the car and tried to get the police issue out of my mind.
As I reached the front door, I went to turn the key in the lock, but it was already unlocked. My pulse quickened, and I cautiously entered the house but the living room was empty. I felt a mix of relief and confusion. Why had she left the door open? Of course, she was still upset about the incident at dinner but she knows better than to open the door like that with the damn police outside. It couldn’t have been more than thirty minutes that she arrived home so I guess she was probably in her room doing something. I hope she wasn’t sobbing her eyes out so it doesn’t make me feel any worse for giving up on her like that. Thoughts were running in my head and I was getting worked up so I decided to head to the den to pour myself a drink.
I connected my Bluetooth to the speaker and played some mellow R&B tunes. I needed something to soothe my nerves. I then moved to the shelf to grab a bottle and sit on my desk to pour myself a generous serving of bourbon and rushed to take a sip, savoring the harsh burn that spread through my chest.
As the music played softly in the background, my thoughts drifted back to Trinity. I loved her, there was no doubt about that. But I also knew that I had let our marriage falter. I didn’t communicate with her enough, and I wasn’t as attentive as I should have been.
The memory of our ill-fated cabin trip came to mind. It was supposed to be a romantic getaway, a chance for us to reconnect. If she knew the real reason, we went on that cabin trip that would devastate her. I can admit I checked out our marriage, but when that trip didn’t go as planned, I chickened out and opted for divorce.
I know I hurt her, and I regret it. But being with Jennifer was just too easy for me. She understood me in ways that Trinity never could, and I found myself drawn to her more and more. I knew I was being selfish, but I couldn’t help it. I took another gulp of the bourbon and closed my eyes, trying to push the guilt aside. But the thought of Trinity’s pain lingered, and I couldn’t shake it off.
As I took another swig from my glass, I couldn’t help but hear Trinity’s infectious laughter coming from the other room. Something stirred inside me, a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time. I wanted her, and not just for sex. I wanted to make love to my wife, to feel the connection we once had. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, or maybe it was a realization I had been avoiding for too long. Memories flooded my mind, starting with the moment we met on an island in Cancun five years ago. She was a vision in the sun, her mocha skin glowing against the crystal blue water. The way she smiled at me, the way she laughed, it was all so vibrant and alive. I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered our wedding day, the happiest day of my life. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of what was important. I pushed Trinity away, turned to another woman, and betrayed her trust. And now she was in that chair, a constant reminder of my mistakes. But maybe, just maybe, I could make it right. I glanced at our wedding picture on my desk, my heart heavy with regret. But there was still a chance to make things right. I would go to Trinity, beg for her forgiveness, and promise to do better. I would end things with Jennifer, cut her out of my life for good. And if it meant finding a new job, a fresh start, I would do it. As I sat lost in thought, my phone buzzed on the desk, interrupting my reverie. It was a text from Jennifer.
Had you taken care of her correctly on the trip, we wouldn’t be dealing with this shit now. FIX IT! 😘
I told this damn girl to stop sending me shit like this on my main line, especially now that I know Trinity goes through my phone.
“Fuck” I muttered. I didn’t know what to do. Stay with my wife or be with Jennifer. I felt lost; I honestly didn’t know how to go after almost finishing the bottle. I replied.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m done with this conversation tonight.”