She edged closer, lifting her eyes to mine, all doe-eyed.
"Babe, you know you'd never let me be the other woman."
"Excuse me?" My laugh was bitter.
I couldn't believe how slick her excuses were.
"Babe~" She tried to sweet-talk her way out again.
I shoved her back, asking sharply, "Sarah, you think this is something to joke about?"
"No, absolutely not." She shook her head, swearing with three fingers raised that she'd never slip up like that again.
I let it slide.
Back then, I figured everyone slips up now and then.
But now, sitting on that guardrail, that night didn't sit right with me.
Her reaction was too intense for a simple slip-up.
First tears, then coyness.
Sarah knew how to play me; she knew just what to do to soften me up.
Her comment wasn't a slip—it was the truth.
She really was having an affair!
After chilling in the breeze for hours, watching those seagulls disappear, I finally grabbed my phone from the car.
What struck me was that all afternoon, only two calls were from Sarah.
The remaining 45 missed calls were from Paul.
I hit him back, and he picked up instantly.
"Where are you hiding? You drunk or what?"
He sounded furious.