Foreign Affair

by Shelli Stevens

  Her fingers clenched around the phone, and she closed her eyes. The sound of his voice brought tears to her eyes and made her stomach flip.

  “Hello, can I help you?” His tone sharpened.

  “It’s Lena.”

  Silence met her announcement.

  Oh God, this was not going to be easy. “I…um…know what you must be thinking. But it was all just a big mistake. Give me a chance to—”

  “Exactly, it was a mistake. This is my work number. Please don’t call it again. Actually, I’m going to ask that you don’t make any more efforts to contact me.”

  “But if you’d only—”

  “Look, Lena.” His voice turned harsh. “I don’t want to hear it. You wanted a fling, well, you got it. Now let it go.”

  A fling. Her stomach clenched as if he’d hit her.

  “Tyler…” But she spoke to dead air. He’d already hung up.

  Her body numb, she set the phone down, but missed the charger and it fell to the floor.

  She sank down to pick it up, and crumpled into a ball on the rug. Choking on a sob, she pressed her fist against her mouth.

  It was too late. She’d already blown it. He wanted nothing to do with her.

  Tyler stared at the phone, his mouth drawn taut.

  The blood pounded in his veins and his throat had gone dry. She called me. He hadn’t been back at work for more than an hour, and she’d called.

  He hadn’t expected to hear from her again—hadn’t wanted to. Not after the shit she’d pulled. Engaged. Their entire time in Europe they’d been living life as a happy couple falling in love, and she’d just been using him for sex.

  Which is what she told you was all she wanted from the beginning.

  His chest tightened, and he dragged in a ragged breath. Damn, she’d played him for the biggest fool. And apparently he’d only been all too willing.

  That phone call though… That phone call had just shattered any progress he’d made on moving on. Not that he’d moved on. Jesus, it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours.

  Maybe he hadn’t handled her too well on the phone. But yesterday morning he’d been ready to declare his love for her. His lips twisted in a bitter travesty of a smile.

  And yet, call it morbid curiosity, but he wanted to know what explanation she could possibly offer. If there was an explanation, it probably would have just been a half-assed apology loaded with weeping, and “poor me” excuses, but it all came down to the same thing. He’d just been the pawn in her game of revenge.

  He stood up from his desk and turned to glance over the city. She’d made him look like an idiot. It went far beyond wounded pride. He’d fallen hard for her, had been willing to give up his life in New York for her.

  Unfortunately, he’d made the mistake of assuming she felt the same.

  “Don’t hang up the phone again. Please, won’t you just have lunch with me?”

  Lena groaned and stretched out on a couch at her parents’ house. She pressed her fingertips to her temple. “No, Keith.”

  She wanted to hate him for everything he’d done. He’d cheated on her and then screwed up any chance she’d had at making a life with the man she’d fallen in love with. Her throat tightened at the thought of Tyler, and she blinked back tears.

  Yes, she wanted to hate him, but couldn’t. That emotion would take too much energy. If anything, she was just indifferent.

  “Please, just hear me out.”

  Lena sighed. This had to be getting embarrassing for him. This unwavering persistence at getting her back.

  “There would be no point. It’s over. If just talking to you pisses me off, how on earth could you think I’d still want to marry you?”

  “I’m not saying we need to get engaged again, baby,” Keith coaxed. “But if we could sit down and have lunch…talk about things. All your stuff is still at the house. Even if you are determined not to listen and consider working things out, we need to at least discuss what to do about the house and all that’s in it.”

  He had a point, Lena thought. She’d been staying at her parents’ house for a month now. They were, once again, traveling. She missed having her own space though.

  Yes, the lavender-painted room of her childhood offered a certain security. With all her awards and trophies, she knew this to be a loving environment. But she was a grown woman.

  And the more she thought about it, the more she leaned toward buying her own place.

  Maybe if she met with Keith she could convince him to sell the house, or at least buy out her share.

  “All right, Keith. Are you free Friday?”

  “You look beautiful.”

  Ok, he’s going to make this awkward. Lena took a deep breath.

  “Thanks, Keith. Look—”

  “I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you, Lena.” He reached across the table to grab her hands, which she promptly pulled back into her lap. His expression darkened, but he continued. “You’ve changed. You know that?”

  “Well, I did get my nails done.” Lena cleared her throat. “Listen, about the house. I think we should—”

  “Oh, hold on.” Keith snapped his fingers in the air to flag down a waiter. “Could you get us a bottle of champagne?”

  “Certainly, sir.” The waiter gave him a brief smile. “And your preference?”

  “Whatever’s cheap.” Keith turned his focus back to Lena. “Yes, about the house. I think we should sell it.”

  Relief washed through her. “Me too. I’m so glad that you—”

  “It’s much too small. We’ll need a bigger one for the kids.”

  “Kids?” She gaped at him. “Keith, hold on, if you’re back on the marriage highway, then you better get off at the next exit. Let it go. It’s not going to happen. Here’s what I was going to say. I want to sell the house and split the profit.”

  “Lena.” He looked pained. “I can’t imagine not spending my life with you. Please, don’t be so quick to throw away everything we have.”

  “And what did we have?” she asked quietly after a moment. “Was it really that special? So special that you had to go and sleep with someone else?”

  “I know I made a stupid choice. I won’t lie and deny it.” He nodded, looking properly chastised. “I swear I haven’t touched her since. In fact, I’m trying to transfer her to another office.”

  “Oh, how gallant of you.” Lena smiled without humor. Why couldn’t he accept that things were over? Even if she’d believed him, which she didn’t, she wouldn’t go back to him. Her heart belonged to someone else.

  “Here we are.” The waiter arrived at the table with a smirk. “One bottle of our cheapest champagne.”

  “I’ve gone about this wrong,” Keith stated as the waiter filled their glasses. “I won’t pressure you any more today. I just wish you wouldn’t be so hasty in kicking me out of your life. We have too much history, Lena, baby.”

  Lena took a sip of the champagne and winced. She set the glass back down with no intention of ever picking it up again. “Keith—”

  “Promise me you’ll just think about things for a while.”

  “I’ve had a month to think about things.” She sighed, knowing her feelings would never change. Jeez, he was like a dog with a bone.

  “I love you, Lena.” This time he succeeded in grabbing her hand, his intent gaze focused on her. “Just give it a while to think it over. I’ll wait for you.”

  She met his gaze with skepticism. “You’ll wait for me?”

  “There’s no one else for me,” he insisted. “I’d do anything for you. Promise me? Just think about it?”

  I ought to tell him to shove his cheap champagne up his tight ass.

  Another idea hit her.

  “I’ll think about it, Keith. For one week. But if I decide that it’s just not going to work, I want you to agree that you’ll sell the house.”

  His lips tightened, an indication he wasn’t happy with her terms. But then he nodded. “I know that won’t be an issu
e, but I agree.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “I am so damn hungry,” Stephanie complained as she slid her mirrored sunglasses back over her eyes.

  Lena settled herself in the car and prayed her hair would stay somewhat in place with the roof down on the convertible. She sighed and looked out the window. This weekend away in Seattle with Stephanie would be a nice little break.

  “Can we stop and get some food somewhere?” Stephanie asked. “Before we head up to Seattle? I don’t think I can make the drive without getting something to eat.”

  “Yeah, that’s fine with me.” Lena tucked her backpack under her feet. “There’s a Mexican restaurant right down the road. Great place.”

  “Works for me. Hey, don’t let me forget to tell you about this amazingly built guy I met in the Bahamas. We’re still in touch.” Stephanie grinned. “We’re talking an ass like granite.”

  Lena laughed and turned to look at her friend. “I’ve missed you. We have got to stop going three months without seeing each other. It’s just not healthy.”

  “Damn right.” Stephanie glanced over. “Your hair’s growing out. Are you going long again?”

  “I’m thinking about it. Besides, I got sick of looking like a guy.”

  “Do you actually think anyone could mistake you for a guy with your curves?” Stephanie grimaced. “I’d kill to have your body.”

  “My body?” Lena burst into laughter. “Do you have any idea how much I envy you? You’re gorgeous.”

  Stephanie snorted. “I’m nothing exciting. Excuse me while I yawn, but tall and skinny is dull. You’re cute. Men want to protect you. To take you home and cuddle with you.”

  Lena snorted. “Yeah, I’m a cocker spaniel with breasts, gotcha. There’s the restaurant.”

  Stephanie whipped the car into the parking lot, and they climbed out and made their way inside.

  They ordered food and got drinks, then Stephanie gave her a pensive look.

  “What?” Lena shifted. “Do I have something in my teeth?”

  Stephanie shook her head. “So how are things going?”

  “Things? Things are great, I guess.” Liar. Everything has been shit for the last three months. How bad was it that she couldn’t even admit that to her best friend?

  Stephanie accepted her margarita from the waiter, and then flicked her tongue over the glass to lick off the salt.

  “Are you still thinking about taking Keith back?”

  “Not really. I just need to tell him. It’s been a week.”

  “Hmm. Do you ever talk to Tyler?”

  Lena choked on the beer she’d just sipped. Her hand shook as she tried to sound casual. “Tyler? Why would I? That’s been over for months now.”

  Stephanie’s mouth tightened, and she glanced away. “This whole situation is just ridiculous.”

  “What situation? We had a fling, and it ended.” She forced the words out.

  “I don’t understand you.” Stephanie turned back to her, her gaze accusing. “Don’t you have any idea what you and Tyler had together? I don’t know why either of you won’t even acknowledge it.”

  “Because there is nothing to acknowl—what do you mean either of us?” Lena’s heart pounded, her palms grew damp.

  Stephanie didn’t reply right away, and Lena leaned forward, gripping her friend’s hand.

  “Have you spoken to him, Steph?”

  Stephanie pulled away and eyed her. “Yes, I spoke to Tyler. I had to find out what happened after you got back to the States, because you sure weren’t telling me.” She took another sip of her drink. “I was in New York for a couple of days, and I still had his business card, so I figured I’d appease my curiosity.”

  “You actually went and saw him? Tell me you aren’t serious?” Her voice shook. “Steph.”

  Stephanie lifted an eyebrow and then shrugged. “Hey, if you’re so over him, then why are you freaking out?”

  Lena ignored her question. “What was he like when you saw him?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Answer the damn question.”

  Stephanie paused and looked away. “He was hurting. I could see it in the way he looked at me. I was an obvious reminder of you. He wouldn’t even let me stay, kicked me out after two minutes.”

  Lena’s breath caught, and hope bloomed the tiniest bit in her heart. She quickly pushed the threatening emotion away and took a sip of her beer. “Well, he acted like a jerk when I called him. So maybe it serves him right.”

  The words were complete crap, and just speaking them sent regret through her. Apparently, Stephanie wasn’t too thrilled either by the way her eyes narrowed.

  “Okay. You both suck. You’re acting like teenagers.”

  “Look, Tyler was a fling. It just hit me a little hard coming home.” Lena shrugged, pushing back the ache in her heart that had become second nature by now.

  Their food arrived, saving them from further discussion. When they had finished eating and were waiting at the register to pay, there was a sudden commotion toward the back of the restaurant.

  Hearing a woman’s voice raised in obvious hysteria, Lena turned to investigate.

  The water hit her smack in the face. She sputtered, raising the sleeve of her shirt to wipe away the water.

  “Oh, she did not just do that.” Stephanie lurched toward Lena’s attacker, but Lena grasped her arm, holding her back from the woman in front of them.

  Although the term woman seemed almost inappropriate. The girl may have been twenty at the most. She was pale, with blonde hair and a waif-like body. She stood trembling in front of them, clutching the now-empty glass of water.

  The girl’s friend stood to her right, looking mortified as she tried to pull the girl away from Stephanie and Lena.

  “Do you know where Keith was last night?” the girl asked, her blue eyes full of tears and blatant hatred. “Do you even know who I am?”

  Lena blinked in dismay. Ugh, I have a pretty good idea.

  “He was with me. He came back to me, again.” The girl’s voice rose. “Do you realize I have to look at your picture on his desk every day? I go to bed with him at night, knowing he’s sleeping with me but trying to get you back.”

  Lena blinked. Should she pity this girl or want to smack her? Pity won out in the end.

  “Look, kid, you can have him. I don’t want him,” she replied with a terse smile. “And, please, give him that message for me.”

  “You might want to stop sleeping with other women’s men,” Stephanie advised and slapped down the bills on the counter to cover their check. “But don’t worry. I’m sure Keith would never cheat on you.”

  Leaving the girl staring at them in shock, Stephanie grasped Lena’s arm and steered her out of the restaurant.

  Lena glanced over her shoulder to see the girl’s friend usher her toward the bathroom.

  “Stephanie, that was just mean.”

  “She’s a little tramp. Stop being so nice.” Stephanie glared at the restaurant and started the car.

  “She’s just a kid,” Lena protested. “I bet she’s barely in college.”

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass if she’s twelve. She knows right from wrong.” Stephanie swerved into traffic. “Stop being so damn nice.”

  “You know what’s really funny?” Lena asked. “Keith said he would wait for me. He said he wouldn’t be with anyone else until I gave in and came back to him. He is such a dick.”

  “I’m glad you’re not marrying him. I couldn’t believe you were even giving him hope.”

  “I already told you I wasn’t going to marry him.” Lena glanced out the window, thinking about the younger woman.

  Now that had been a girl in love. A girl who’d been in such anguish, she hadn’t known what to do with herself.

  Kind of like how she was with Tyler. Her stomach flipped and an idea took root in her head.

  “Did he really seem unhappy, Steph?”

  Stephanie glanced at her and lifted an eyebrow. “
Are we talking about Tyler again? Yes. He did.”

  Lena took a deep breath. It was time she took a risk. Time to try and get Tyler back. Why keep denying how she felt for him? By the end of their time in Europe, she had been completely and hopelessly in love with him. The feeling hadn’t faded with time.

  She calculated the amount of sick days she still had left and then bit her lip.

  “Stephanie, I think I’m going to search for a cheap flight from Seattle to New York.”

  Lena zipped up her backpack and then glared at the ringing phone. The entire weekend she’d stayed at Stephanie’s apartment, the phone had rung at least once an hour.

  “I’m so sorry, Steph.”

  Stephanie sat on the bed watching television, channel surfing with the remote.

  “Stop apologizing for the fact that your ex is an asshole.” Her friend shook her head.

  “I don’t think it quite sunk in when I told him I would hire a lawyer if he didn’t agree to sell the house. He told me to call him when my PMS went away.”

  “Pathetic.” Stephanie shook her head. “I’m so glad you’re going to New York.”

  “Me too.” Lena pulled off her shirt and grabbed the dress that hung over a chair. She pulled it on and looked in the mirror. It had cost her a pretty penny, but it had been worth it. It was a sleeveless, pale blue dress that flared out at the knees. The square neckline hinted at her cleavage, and a darker blue belt accented her waist.

  “Good thing this fabric doesn’t wrinkle easily. I’m going to nap on the plane.” She took a deep breath in. “Will you zip me?”

  Stephanie came over to pull the zipper up. “This is cute. It’s a great color on you, and very spring. I don’t think I could pull it off. Too cutesy. But you do it justice.”

  Lena frowned. “Cutesy?”

  “You know, I can’t see Tyler turning you away. That man was hooked on you, from what I could see. Besides the fact that there was enough chemistry between you both to blow up China.”

  Lena gave a nervous laugh and smoothed a hand over the dress. “Well, hopefully the fuse is still lit. You didn’t hear how angry he was when I called him.”

  Stephanie rolled her eyes. “That’s just his pride. I’m sure he’ll melt when he sees you face to face.”