Truth

Chad held Alyssa’s gaze. “I was just trying to—”

She put her hand on his arm. “It’s fine. I overreacted before. It’s not just Zoey that I owe an apology to.”

“I don’t blame you. How could I?”

Alyssa took a deep breath. “We should talk.”

Chad tensed. Those were three words that shot worry through him every time. It was even worse now. Alyssa was so calm.

She’d come to a decision.

Had she decided that after all their years together, they were over?

Chad opened his mouth, but no words came. He nodded.

She gestured toward the stairs. He followed her upstairs and into their bedroom, his stomach lurching the whole way. Were they over?

Alyssa sat on the bed. He stayed in the doorway. She patted the mattress next to her. Chad hesitated, but sat next to her like an obedient lap dog. 

Whatever she said next would change everything forever. 

She licked her lips and her gaze darted around the room. It was a nervous habit she’d had since they were teenagers. She did that when she had something important to say but didn’t want to say it.

He took a deep breath and looked around the room. They’d shared it together for so many years. Decades, actually. The room held both the best and worst of memories.

Would this be the last time they sat in it together?

She took his hand and laced her fingers through his.

Chad turned to her, surprised. Had she forgiven him? Or was this a tender moment of saying goodbye forever? A lump formed in his throat. His hand shook in hers, and she clasped it between both of hers.

“I have something to confess.”

Blood drained from his head. He had no idea what to expect. What was she going to say?

“I…” Her voice trailed off and she frowned. “There’s something I did that I had forgotten about.”

His pulse raced through his body. This wasn’t where he’d expected the conversation to go, and he had no clue where it was even headed.

“Around the same time you were… you were…” She paused, obviously struggling with her words. “About the time you were with Lydia—” She said the name like it was poison on her tongue. “—I kissed someone.”

Chad’s head fell back as though her words had slapped him across the face. Not that he had any room to be angry. “Who?”

She squeezed his hand. “Rusty.”

“Rusty?”

Alyssa took another deep breath. “When I moved out for a short time, I stayed in the guest room at the tow truck driver’s place.”

“He kissed you?”

She cleared her throat. “I kissed him, but he didn’t let it go any further. He told me I needed to try and save my marriage.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I’m a hypocrite for being angry with you.”

He sucked in some air, closed his eyes, and let the news sink in. “You’re not a hypocrite. All you did was kiss him. I—” He couldn’t bring himself to say what he’d done. It didn’t compare to one kiss.

She traced patterns on his hand and pressed her lips against his palm. “But it could’ve become so much more. I… I don’t think I’d have fought it. Actually, I’m sure I wouldn’t have, Chad.”

He opened his eyes. 

A single tear ran down her face. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. There’s no telling what would’ve happened. Nothing did. I’m the one who’s sorry.”

She shook her head. “You can’t act like what I just told you means nothing. I kissed another man, Chad. I wanted it to go further.”

His stomach lurched at the thought. He stared at a necklace laying on the headboard behind her. “I can’t say it doesn’t hurt, Lyss. I also can’t say that I don’t want to punch him. Because I do, believe me. But all I want is your forgiveness. I just want things to go back to the way they were before we came back on that plane.”

“Me, too.”

Their gazes locked, but neither spoke. 

After what felt like an eternity, Alyssa leaned her head against his shoulder. “Where do we go from here?”

He pulled her close and held her tight. “I hope we can move on and forget that either one of us did anything we regret back when our marriage was on the rocks.”

“That’s all I want. Well, that and to have Alex back.”

Chad kissed the top of her head. “Then we both want the same thing.”

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with intensity. “No more secrets. Total honesty from here on out. If you happen to think of anything, tell me as soon as you think of it. I’ll do the same.”

He nodded. “I do actually have something to confess.”

Alyssa’s eyes widened. “What?”

“I’ve been doing yoga behind your back.”

She stared at him for a moment, and then burst out laughing. “Yoga?”

“Yeah. Remember when the doctor suggested it? I said I’d never do it, but I have been. I even bought a mat.”

She stopped laughing, but her expression remained amused. “You were too embarrassed to tell me?”

He shrugged. “It helped with my stress. At least until recently. Not sure anything can help with what we’ve been dealing with the last few days.”

Her expression turned serious and she put her hand on his. “I understand completely. Are we going to be okay?”

Chad couldn’t hide the surprise. “You’re asking me?”

She nodded, and he pulled her close again. Would they be okay? 

“Now that you’ve forgiven me, it seems like we will.”

“You mean, now that we’ve forgiven each other.”

He ran his hands through her hair. “There isn’t anything for me to forgive.”