“You didn’t think about Madison either.”
“You just thought about yourself.”
Nathan cuts his steak with more force than necessary.
“You know what Vanessa told me 3 months ago?” He says.
“She said she wanted another baby. Said Lily needed a sibling.”
“We actually started trying.”
Vanessa closes her eyes.
“Were you sleeping with both of us at the same time?” Nathan asks her.
“Was that your plan? Get pregnant and just what? Hope it was mine.”
“I never—”
“We always used—”
Vanessa can’t finish the sentence.
“Oh, that makes it so much better,” Nathan says.
“Thanks for being safe while you destroyed our marriage.”
Dererick hasn’t touched his food.
“I think we should take this somewhere private.”
“No,” Nathan and I say at the same time.
“You wanted to be together so badly,” I say.
“Here’s your chance. You’re sitting right next to each other.”
“Go ahead, hold hands, kiss, show us this amazing connection that was worth blowing up two marriages.”
Neither of them moves.
“That’s what I thought.” I say.
A manager appears at our table, clearly sent over by our increasingly concerned waiter.
“Is everything all right here?”
“Everything’s perfect,” Nathan says with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just celebrating our anniversaries.”
“Could we get a bottle of your best champagne? Actually, make it two bottles.”
“We have a lot to celebrate.”
The manager looks uncertain, but nods and retreats.
“You’re both insane,” Vanessa hisses.
“Insane?” I laugh.
“We’re not the ones who risked everything for stolen moments in gym parking lots.”
“We’re not the ones who lied to everyone we’re supposed to love.”
“You don’t understand,” Dererick starts.
“Then make me understand.” I challenge him.
“Tell me what I’m missing.”
“Tell me what she has that I don’t.”
“Tell me what was worth throwing away 15 years and a daughter who thinks you hung the moon.”
He can’t look at me.
The champagne arrives. The manager himself pours it, probably trying to assess whether he needs to call security.
Nathan raises his glass.
“A toast to the happy couples.”
“May you get exactly what you deserve.”
I raise my glass and clink it against his. Dererick and Vanessa don’t move.
“Come on,” Nathan prods. “Toast with us. This is a celebration.”
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