guys, right?”
Daphne shook her head. “Not that I’m aware of.”
Skylar gave her a look. “I find that hard to believe.”
Daphne stared at her lap. She’d been in such a fog for so long that she’d almost stopped paying attention to men entirely.
“How do you know they’re married?” KC asked.
Skylar took a sip of her drink. “You mean online or in person?”
“Both.”
“ Online , sometimes they say it outright. But when I’ve met them in other situations, like at a trade show, for example, it depends. Sometimes they’re wearing a wedding ring, but not always.”
Daphne looked back up. “If they don’t have a ring on, how do you know?” For the first time, she wondered if Brian had ever cheated on her. She certainly hadn’t strayed, even when things between them were beyond repair.
Skylar set her glass on the table. “Sometimes the tan line gives it away.”
KC laughed. “That’s so sad, it’s funny. Men think they can get away with that?”
Skylar reached for the sangria pitcher and refilled all their glasses. “Yes, some men are that stupid. A few weeks ago, after work, I met a man at a bar who told me he was in Manhattan for a few days for business. Very handsome, charming, the whole deal. And no ring, no tan line either. He bought me a couple drinks, then asked if he could take me to dinner the following night before heading home over the weekend.”
Daphne and KC both leaned in closer.
“And?” KC said.
“And I said sure. Why wouldn’t I?”
KC grinned. “Your life seems so fun. Most weeknights I go to bed at nine thirty.”
Skylar continued. “So he pulled out his phone to get my number, and I noticed that his wallpaper backdrop was a picture of a little boy. I asked if it was his son, and he said yes. He didn’t immediately follow that up by explaining that he was divorced, so I asked if he was married.”
“And?” Daphne asked.
“And he hesitated for a moment before responding that yes, he was married, but that I should give him credit for being honest.”
KC laughed. “Wow, that guy had some balls.”
Skylar sipped her drink. “Oh, it gets better.”
“What happened?” Daphne asked.
“He told me I should sleep with him because married men never have sex, meaning he’d put a lot of effort into it.”
“That’s not true!” KC shouted, then immediately covered her mouth with her hand. “Oops, sorry I got a little fired up there.”
Daphne looked down. In the last years of their marriage, she and Brian rarely had sex. Early on they were intimate nearly every day, but after Emma was born that tapered off. Not overnight, but gradually, so gradually that it wasn’t noticeable—until one day when it was.
“What did you say to the guy?” KC asked Skylar.
Skylar held up her index finger. “Before I could respond to his comment, he told me that I should also have sex with him because—and I swear I’m not making this up—because he has a big dick. Those were his exact words. ‘I have a big dick. ’ ”
“No way!” KC yelled, then covered her mouth with her hand again. “I’m sorry, I’m not used to drinking sangria. Or to hearing awesome stories like this.”
Skylar laughed. “It’s okay. You’re funny when you drink.”
“He really said that with a straight face?” Daphne asked.
Skylar crossed her heart. “You know I would never lie to you two.”
“What did you say back to him?” Daphne asked. “I’d be speechless.”
“I think I would have up and left.” KC pounded her fist on the table.
Skylar gave them a sly smile. “I did leave, but first I came up with something pretty good. I stood up and casually reached for my purse, and then I smiled and told him he was a big dick. Then I calmly strolled out of the bar.”
KC pumped her fist. “That’s my girl!”
Daphne clapped her hands. “Well done. I’d probably still be sitting there with my mouth open.”
Skylar bowed her head. “Thank you, thank you.”
“I’m
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
John O'Riley
Brenda Sinclair
Christopher George
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