I knew she was cheating on me. I had no proof, other than what I saw with my own eyes on Tuesdays, but I knew. At the party she wouldn’t sit by me or even acknowledge me, so finally I confronted her outside the bathroom.

“Look Deb, I know you’ve been fucking around on me on Tuesdays. And I know your side man is here tonight. Don’t make any more bad choices. We might still have a chance.”

“You don’t own me, Mick. I have friends too. I’m going to talk with them and spend time with them. It’s a party!”

“When you’re done partying, I’ll see you upstairs in our room,” I stood and turned to leave.

“If I don’t come, it’ll be because a real man has taken me home,” she said defiantly.

“Deb. I’ve drawn a line. I know you’ve been cheating and I’ve chosennot to get a PI andhave you followedtoget solid proof. But I’ve drawn a line and when you cross it, the results will be very bad for you and your lover.”

“Where did you draw the line, big man?” She demanded to know.

“I’m not going to tell you,” I said flatly.

“Well how will I know that I’ve crossed it?” Deb said as she put her hands on her hips.

“You won’t, so you’d better consider everything you do from now forward. But believe me, when you cross it, the hell that will rain down on you and all of the men you have been fucking will be incalculable.”

With that I left the party and, instead of going upstairs here at the Hampton and the room we’d gotten in case we got too drunk to drive, I went home. I figured that she would be pissed and that if she was going to fuck somebody, she would bring him home to our bed and leave me waiting at the hotel.

I sat in the dark, drinking unsweetened ice tea. No beer or booze for me, I was taking no chance of losing control in an argument.Ifthey came to my home, I was going to be sober as a judge. I looked at the clock and saw it was 3:30 AM. The party should have broken up by now and Deb and her guy should be here soon if my fears were correct.

I was about to go to bed when I heard the key in the front door. I stood and prepared myself for a range of things that could possibly happen. Deb walked in and spoke behind her.

“Come on, it’s OK.”

“I don’t know. You’re married,”a male voiceprotested.

“So what. My husband is a pussy. He went to our room at the hotel and left me at the party.”

“I don’t feel right about this,” the man said.

“Well then go the fuck away and tell Jim to get in here.”

I heard the man walk down the porch stairs and soon there were steps coming up the wooden stairs.

“Done with him already?”Another man’s voice said.

“He pussied out. So it’s just you and me, Jim. Did you park the car around the corner?”

“Yeah, no one will know that I’m here with you.”

His words were followed by the sound of the two kissing.