I Played Their Affair at His Family Party novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Family Dinner

The elevator doors closed on the gray cardigan.

"Say it," Cade said quietly.

I couldn't make my mouth work.

Brynn looked from my face to the numbers climbing to eight and back again.

"Who is that?" she said. "Ciara. Who is that?"

"My brother's wife."

"Your what?"

"Shelley." My lips felt numb. "She's married to Orin."

Brynn made a small sound.

"She told me I was perfect for him." She pressed her fingers to her mouth. "She told me to post more. She said he liked a girl who was loud about it."

"She wanted you loud," Cade said. "Everyone looks at the loud one."

I had filmed the whole thing with my phone held low against my thigh.

I looked at the clip, a few seconds of gray wool and a black button, and my hands were steady now.

"I'm telling Orin," I said.

"Tonight?" Cade asked.

"Tomorrow at dinner. I don't want him learning this from a screen."

Cade didn't argue.

He walked us both to our cars, and he waited until I had pulled out before he went to his own.

On Wednesday my mother cooked a roast chicken.

Orin came with Shelley, and Shelley came with a bottle of wine and her usual smile and a new red scarf.

I watched her kiss my mother's cheek, and I nearly dropped the salad bowl.

After the chicken I asked Orin to help me carry something out to the garage.

"The truck?" he asked. "I thought Dad finished it."

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