Chapter 24: Through the Looking Glass

Ryan grabbed two more beers from the cooler, and once he was sure he had my attention, he jerked his head toward the side of the house, as if to say I should follow him.

Ryan then looked at Cindy. “Hey, Red, keep an eye on the kids, will you? I need to show Nick something.”

Cindy sat up and said that she would. She looked at me and smiled. It wasn’t one of the inviting, sexy smiles she had given me so many times over the last month and a half while our affair had taken place. Instead, it was a knowing, almost sad smile that said she knew what I was going through and was sorry. I knew I should hate her for what she had done, but I didn’t. The truth was she was as much a victim in this whole thing as Sarah and I were. She had just been doing what was necessary to keep the truth about her life in California a secret from her family and friends in Kansas and whatever else Ryan and Roxie had over her.

Ryan started walking toward the house, and I followed him because I didn’t know what else to do. Ryan handed me one of the beers and led me around the corner to a large window that looked into the living room. The window was cracked open about six inches. I could already hear voices inside.

He stopped and nodded at the glass. “Look.”

I stepped closer and looked.

Roxie sat on the edge of the cushions facing the window. Her jeans and panties bunched around one ankle, and her legs were splayed wide. Sarah knelt on the rug in front of the couch, her face buried between Roxie’s legs, and her head moved in a way that made it obvious what she was doing, if the position didn’t already give it away. Roxie’s hands were in Sarah’s hair, not forcing, just guiding her head around her crotch. Sarah’s shoulders were tight, and her back was rigid. She was not moving like she wanted to be there.