
I hugged her.
What I wanted to do was strangle her. How could this woman act so fake? How could she pretend like nothing was wrong?
I noticed the gleam in her eyes. I noticed the way her lips curved into a self-satisfied smirk. She knew. And she was playing a game with me.
Fine. Iβd play along. Iβd show her that her little affair with my husband was not going to destroy me.
βHey Candace! Youβre looking good!β
Damn straight I look good, I thought to myself. I suppose she had assumed I would crawl into a dark hole and feel sorry for myself after I found out about them. True, I had seriously toyed with the idea of seeing a therapist β what woman wouldnβt feel so betrayed after twelve years of marriage? And by her best friend, no less?
But I hadnβt. Instead, I had kicked the jerk out of the house, joined a gym and had taken my frustrations out on the elliptical machine. I had lost almost fifteen pounds.
βThanks. Iβve been keeping busy.β I swallowed the bitter lump of bile stuck in the back of my throat. βBut look at you!β I arched a brow and deliberately paused for effect. βYou look β¦ nice.β
She shifted self-consciously and issued a nervous laugh. βYeah well, you know Todd. He likes to eat.β
I glanced at my watch. βToddβs not here yet?β
She nodded nervously.
βGee, I hope itβs not another woman.β
Laughing, I turned and left.

Fiction under 250 words.