Chapter 9

Bruce felt so guilty about spending all his money on Natalie and canceling dinner plans with his wife that he decided to make her dinner at home, instead. He didn’t tell her the plan, letting himself be overwhelmed by her disappointment when he told her they wouldn’t be going out that week. He had expected her to get angry, or maybe sad, but her response was so much worse.

“Okay,” she’d said, sighing. She didn’t look upset, just disappointed.

“I’ll make up for it,” he had said, desperate for her to believe him.

“No, you won’t,” she had replied, and pulled out her phone, ignoring him.

He wanted his home cooked meal to be a surprise, so he left work early, arriving at his house before his wife. He started to cook, ignoring the urge he felt to watch one of Natalie’s videos. He wasn’t going to do it. Tonight was about his wife, not Natalie. His phone chimed to let him know that Natalie had posted to her fanclub, but he swiped away the notification without opening the app. It would be there later. So will my wife, a voice in the back of his head said, but deep down he knew that wasn’t true. He had already lost her once. He wasn’t going to let himself lose her again.

“Bruce,” she said, surprise evident in her voice as she walked through the door and smelt dinner cooking. “What’s this?”

“Surprise!” Bruce said, giving his wife a quick peck before heading back to the food on the stove. “I told you I’d make it up to you for not going out tonight, didn’t I?”

“I guess you did, yeah,” she was smiling, and Bruce’s heart ached as he realized he couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen his wife smile at him.

He poured her a glass of wine and instructed her to go dress up. She laughed as she raced upstairs to peel out of her work clothes and put on an evening dress. Bruce finished preparing the meal, and then he, too, put on nicer clothes, seating himself across the table from his wife. He lit a candle.

“Bruce, this is so romantic,” she said, honestly sounding impressed.

“Let’s hope it’s also delicious,” he replied, and she laughed.

They shared a perfect evening together, and Bruce was convinced he’d reminded his wife that she loved him. They laughed, they talked, and they didn’t argue once. His food was good, the wine was better, and they fell into bed together.

She kneeled on the bed, slowly slipping the straps of her dress off her shoulders, revealing her breasts. She slid the dress off her body, fabric pilling at her knees. She wore lingerie, a pair Bruce had bought her. He kissed his wife, tracing his hands over her body as she helped him out of her clothes, but his stomach had started to churn.