Wearing My Halo Tilted by Stephanie Perry Moore

from the smartest family in the world, but he was no dummy. Surely he could put two and two together. Waiting for the bomb to drop, I sighed.
    â€œThat singer guy, are you out with him? Y’all not staying in the same hotel room or something like that are you? How did he get down there, I thought he was in the play with you? He’s not supposed to be at your book conference thing.”
    Twenty thousand questions came at once. And if that wasn’t enough tension the real Bryce walked back to the door.
    â€œLook you don’t need to grill me,” I said. “I’m just having dinner with him. He came down here on his own.”
    Knowing inwardly that I didn’t have any ties to Bryce, I didn’t need to be all secretive or anything. Whatever he heard he’d just have to hear. I had no double life. I was a married woman talking to my husband. Surely Bryce would not have issues with that.
    To get myself back on track and convince myself that this was no big deal, I simply said to my husband what I needed to say. “Bryce and I are friends. End of story. Thank you so very much for calling me about my award. I appreciate it. I will talk to you later. Good-bye!”
    â€œDang, girl!” he said as he sat down beside me. “You let your man have it didn’t you? You not gone be in the doghouse mentioning me.”
    I’d already been in the doghouse. I didn’t even know why I tried anymore. Sucking my bottom lip in, I fought back the emotion that was welling up inside of me. No, it didn’t make me happy that I had to cut off my conversation with my husband. But before he could call me back and let me have it, I did turn off my cell phone. No need getting embarrassed twice in one night.
    â€œI understand though,” Bryce said as he gently stroked my hand to calm me. “I got problems in my marriage too. I’m sure you’ve read about it all over, heard it, and seen it. I should be served with divorce papers any day now. It’s tough staying committed to one person your whole life. You can’t let that person get you down so much that you don’t even want to strive for your own dreams and goals. If they’re constantly tearing you down, making you feel inferior, making you just . . . hate ’em. You gotta cut ’em loose.”
    I looked directly in his eyes, wiped the water from mine, and said, “Honestly, I hear you. I’d never thought I’d be in a failing marriage. We got two young babies; it’s just not fun anymore. And I know it’s not only one-sided, Bryce, I know he hates me just as much. He’s jealous and he’s probably turning red right now because he can’t get me on my cell phone.”
    â€œDo you still love him?” Bryce asked out of the blue.
    â€œI’ve got so many issues with myself, I don’t even know if I have any love to give anybody.”
    â€œWe gotta do something about that. What’s your day like tomorrow?”
    As we traveled to the sushi spot, I bored him with details about my book signing at the Christian African-American Booksellers booth, the interviews with magazines and Christian broadcasting stations.
    As we got seated, he asked, “Okay, so when will the busy lady be free?”
    â€œAfter four. Sorry to go on and on, it’s just that no one has ever sent me anywhere. This is huge.”
    The waitress came and brought a menu of seafood choices, from octopus to cooked sea eel. I was excited because my husband never wanted to share one of my favorite foods, but Bryce seemed to love it more than me.
    We enjoyed the rest of our evening, not talking about either one of our marriages. We laughed, giggled, and enjoyed our bliss. My depressed feeling phased away and Bryce had me glowing all over. By the time Mr. Maddox was done with me, I was beginning to look forward to four o’clock the next day.
    Bryce’s male companionship was uplifting. Later, however,