The Wives of Beverly Row 6: Lust Has a New Address by Abby Weeks Page B

different from Zola’s. She tried not to think of it too often, but during her marriage she’d often felt similar to the way Zola must be feeling now, powerless, helpless, worthless. She’d forgiven Gabe as much as forgiveness was possible, but she knew she’d allowed that situation to go on far too long. She could have stood up for herself sooner, she didn’t have to let so many years of her life pass feeling so humiliated. Seeing Gabe shaking hands with Jake now brought it all back to her.
    But she’d come a long way since then. She had to give herself credit for that. She was free, she was independent, and she felt that despite everything, she’d somehow managed to win Gabe’s respect in this new phase of her life. He was even being a better father than he’d ever been before. She felt like her courage and her strength were largely responsible for all of that.
    She gave Gabe a smile when he sat down. She knew he wasn’t her enemy. Not anymore. He was here to help her, to help Zola.
    Still, she couldn’t help noticing how smug he seemed as he sat there. He looked at Zola. He knew he was going to be having sex with her. Had he changed at all? She would probably never know.
    “So nice of you to join us,” Jake said to Gabe.
    “Oh, no problem, I mean really, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
    “Ariel told me you two never tried this while you were married,” Jake said.
    “Maybe we should have,” Gabe said, laughing. He looked at Zola again and Ariel couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit jealous at the way Gabe was eyeing her.
    She knew she was being silly. Gabe was her ex, and Ariel was the one who’d orchestrated this entire scenario as a means of getting even with Jake, but still….
    “Well, if I remember correctly,” Ariel interjected, “Gabe was doing his fair share of it. It was just that he was keeping me out of the party.” Ariel knew she was being challenging to Gabe but it worked for drawing Jake in, playing up to her cover story of wanting to get even with Gabe. She figured it could only work to their advantage.
    “I can’t deny I was a terrible husband,” Gabe said, facing Ariel.
    Ariel shrugged. “Well, I guess tonight you’ll get a taste of what I went through.”
    “What do you mean?” Gabe said.
    “Oh, come on, honey. I know you’ve still got feelings for me.”
    Gabe looked at her and then around the table at the others. “Maybe I do and maybe I don’t,” he said.
    “You’ll have to watch Jake giving me everything he’s got.”
    “Oh, come on,” Gabe said. “This isn’t about getting back at me for cheating, is it?”
    Ariel shrugged, then she laughed. “Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t,” she said. She winked at Zola. Zola laughed. This was turning out to be more fun than Ariel had expected. Not only was Gabe helping her with the plan to get back at Jake, but she was getting a chance to get back at Gabe in the process. It wasn’t much, he’d be screwing Zola’s brains out while she was supposedly getting even with him, but still, there was something satisfying about it all.
    Then her phone beeped. She took it out of her purse and looked at it. It was a message from Gabe. She hadn’t noticed him send it.
    —We need to talk.
    That was all it said. Maybe she’d scared him with her attitude.
    “Will you please excuse me,” she said, getting up. “I need to make a phone call. It’s Becky.” She went over toward the ladies restroom. There was a sofa by the wall and she sat on it.
    A moment later Gabe joined her.
    “What did you tell them?” she said.
    “I said I was using the washroom.”
    “So what do you want to talk about?”
    “What was all that talk about my cheating in there?”
    “I’m just playing a role,” Ariel said. “I’m trying to get Jake to believe I’m doing this to get to you.”
    “But you are getting to me,” Gabe said.
    “Well,” Ariel said, “you should think about that. What do you think it was like for me, all those