I don't want to spend this trip defending myself. I leaned back in my chair. I haven't accused you of anything. You don't have to. She went quiet.
Then she said, I'll talk to you tomorrow. She hung up. That night I stayed awake longer than I wanted to. I wasn't angry yet. I was trying to understand why the woman I was supposed to marry in 6 weeks suddenly sounded like she wanted distance from me.
That night Ashley went out with Marissa and Tessa to a beachfront bar. I didn't know what happened there. I only knew she had stopped answering my calls. The next morning she sent me a short message saying she was tired and had stayed out late. I replied that it was fine.
But later that afternoon my phone rang. It was Ashley. "Hey," I said. She didn't answer immediately. Jack?
Yeah. I need to tell you something. I stopped what I was doing. What happened? I met someone.
I stared at the wall. What do you mean? I met a guy here. Okay. His name is Malcolm.
I waited. Why are you telling me this? She took a breath. Because things got complicated. My stomach tightened.
Did you sleep with him? Silence. Then she said, Yes. I closed my eyes for a second. When?
Last night. And you're telling me this now? I didn't know how to say it. I looked down at the wedding documents on the table. We're getting married in 6 weeks.
I know. You slept with another man 6 weeks before our wedding. Her voice started shaking. It wasn't supposed to happen. I stood up.
What happened? She was quiet. We went out to a bar. He was working with a local tour company. We started talking.
And then? I don't know. Things got out of control. You slept with him? Yes.
And that's all? She didn't answer. Ashley. I saw him again today. I stopped.
You saw him again? Yes. After you slept with him? Yes. Why?
I don't know. No, you do know. She started crying. I feel something with him. I walked to the window.
You feel something with a guy you met yesterday? I know how it sounds. It sounds like you're already making another decision. She didn't respond. Are you still seeing him?