She changed clothes, got into bed, and turned away from me. I closed my laptop. Good night. Good night. I went to sleep believing everything was fine.
The next morning, I would learn that it wasn't. I woke up around 8:00 the next morning. Marie was still asleep beside me. I got dressed quietly and went downstairs to make coffee. I had work to finish and I wanted to get it done before lunch.
For the first hour, everything felt normal. Then my phone rang. It was a friend of mine who hadn't been at the house the night before. Hey, Walter. What's up?
There was a short pause. Did Marie tell you what happened last night? I frowned. What do you mean? Another pause.
Nothing. Forget it. I stood up from the kitchen counter. No. What happened?
I don't know if I should be saying anything. Then why did you call? He sighed. I saw Marie at the club. I know.
She went with the girls. Yeah. His voice changed. She wasn't with them most of the night. I stared at the wall.
What does that mean? I don't know exactly. I just saw her talking to some guy near the back bar. I didn't respond. My friend continued.
Maybe it was nothing. That's why I didn't say anything last night. What time was this? After 2. I looked toward the stairs.
Marie had told me they were having fun. She had never mentioned leaving the group. Did you see her leave with him? No. Did you see them together later?
He hesitated. Yes. My stomach tightened. Where? Outside the club.
I said nothing. He quickly added, "Walter, I don't know what happened. I'm just telling you what I saw. Who was the guy?" "I don't know his name." I thanked him and ended the call. For several minutes, I just stood there.
I didn't want to jump to conclusions. Marie could have been talking to someone. That didn't automatically mean she had cheated. I went upstairs. She was sitting on the edge of the bed looking at her phone.
Morning. She looked up. Morning. I closed the bedroom door. Did you have fun last night?
Yeah. Who was the guy at the club? Her expression changed immediately. What guy? I watched her carefully.
The guy you were with? I wasn't with anyone. My friend saw you. She looked away. Your friend probably misunderstood.
He saw you talking to him. So, he also saw you outside with him. Marie stood up. Walter, nothing happened. I didn't raise my voice.
Then tell me what happened. She rubbed her forehead. I had a few drinks. I know. I was talking to someone.
Who? I don't know his name. You're telling me you spent part of the night talking to a man whose name you don't know? She didn't answer. I waited.
Finally, she sat down. His name was Daniel. I stared at her and she looked at the floor. We kissed. The room went silent.