Chapter 5: Tipping Points

After sending the message, Madison didn’t reply for a long time.

I stared at my phone, refreshing the screen, the house silent except for Emily’s soft snoring and the L train rumbling in the distance. Jealousy twisted in my stomach.

Just as I was about to sneak into the office to call her, Madison finally replied.

I tiptoed past Emily, closing the door behind me before reading her message.

[Sorry, just showered. Didn’t see my phone.]

[He’s the guy from my blind date last week. He’s into me, so he picked me up after work. Why?]

I pictured her, towel wrapped around her head, texting without a care.

My pulse spiked. I typed back:

[You went on a blind date?]

[Yeah, my family set it up. He seems decent, so I figured I’d get to know him.]

She left it at that, casual as ever.

The air in the office felt thick. I hated how powerless I was, how I couldn’t object without exposing my own hypocrisy. She had all the leverage.

Trying to sound calm, I texted: “So, what do you think of him?”

She disappeared again, and I paced the room, gnawing my lip, checking the time, my mind spinning with images of her with someone else.

Finally, she replied:

“Sorry, just took a call.”

“You mean what I think of him? At first, nothing. But today, he brought me a Coach bag. He seems decent, so I’m thinking of getting to know him better.”

“Mike, it’s late. I’m going to bed. You should rest too. Good night.”

Coach bag. The detail stung. She was moving on, and wanted me to know it.

A heavy ache settled in my chest, and I rubbed at it, feeling exposed and ridiculous.

Was the person who just called her that guy?

Images flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t take it. I went to the office and called her directly.