Belated Love is Not Worth Looking Back

Just before quitting time, I checked my phone to find a message from Jack, showing a dinner reservation screenshot. [7 PM, don't stand me up.]

It was the rooftop restaurant I had longed to visit.

I had nagged him to celebrate our anniversary there, but he always brushed it off.

"Why there? We can celebrate anywhere."

"You know how tough it is to book? I don't have time to waste."

I had been there, but to catch him red-handed.

No one knew the panic I felt seeing Lily tag that location at that time.

Rushing there, I found Jack, who had promised to be with me, comfortably seated with her.

Before I could react, Lily gently started, "Hey Jen, don't be mad at Jack. He's just showing me the ropes since I got promoted today..."

Jack, ever the gentleman, chimed in, "It's all above board here. Why are you acting like you caught us in the act?"

What could I do?

I watched them, looking every bit the loving couple, in the restaurant I had dreamed about. What else could I do?

Thinking back, my heart sank, but I still went along with Jack's plan.

Sadly, I waited all evening, but he never appeared.

Faced with the waiter's inquiry, I silently ordered a meal for one and ate alone.

Time passed, and just as I got home, Jack arrived shortly after.

"Jen, let me explain," he started.

I listened as he recounted why he missed our dinner.

Again, it was Lily.

She had accidentally burned herself with hot water during a meeting.

Jack had rushed her to the hospital and then made sure she got home safely.

By the time he thought to look for me, I had left the restaurant.

He spoke of Lily with such innocence and care, his words dripping with fondness.

Only I knew what she was calculating.

The subtle hints online, and the discrepancies in our marriage, all pointed to Lily's scheming.

"Babe, you're not upset, right?" he paused, gauging my reaction.

Seeing no immediate response, Jack pressed on, watching me intently.

"Nope, just listening. Oh, and didn't Lily wreck the computer? Weren't you furious about that?"

I asked because when Lily first started at the company, she was green and clumsy, constantly bungling things.

Jack would come home complaining about her, always on the brink of firing her.

Yet, within six months, his annoyance turned to indulgence.

He even took the blame for her mistakes at work.

My question confirmed for him that I was upset.

"If you're mad, just say it! Why beat around the bush? It's exhausting trying to guess what's on your mind!"

I sighed, unsure how to explain that I really wasn't angry.

I was just curious.

Besides, whenever I got mad, it was never this quiet—I always caused a scene.

Jack still didn't understand me.

I chuckled, shaking my head, feeling no need to explain further.

"I'm really not mad, I'm off to bed."

He wrapped his arms around me, whispering seductively, "Jen... how about tonight..."

"Too wiped out, maybe some other time."

I wriggled free from his embrace and closed the bedroom door behind me.

My fatigue quickly swept me into sleep, oblivious to Jack leaving the house.