I didn’t even care I was behaving like a child. I spun around and screamed like a little girl as Emmit stood up and grabbed me. With one pull, I was back in his arms. “Are you happy, Addie?”

My arms wrapped his neck as I fought to hold my tears back. “Oh, Emmit. I’ve never been happier.”

I stepped into the house and let out a sigh of relief. I loved being on circuit with Emmit, and I loved my job, but I loved being home too. We’d gotten in late last night and I barely had time this morning to take care of the last minute preparations for Emmit’s surprise birthday party. Robby had convinced Emmit to head to the garage to go over some pit strategies.

Lola ran past me and straight to the kitchen. With a shake of my head, I followed her and grabbed a can of dog food from the pantry. “You hungry girl?”

Giving me a bark, I opened the can and dropped the food into her bowl.

I spun around and headed downstairs to check everything out. Ashley had secretly flown in two days ago for the party. Her and Candace started decorating the downstairs area as soon as Emmit left this morning while I ran into town to pick up some food.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket. Pulling it out, I saw Robby’s name.

Robby: Hey, is there any way you can come to the shop?

My heart sunk.

Me: Is everything okay?

Robby: Oh yeah sorry! I left the cake there. Stephanie asked me to pick it up and I had it in the refrigerator and Emmit and I just headed down to the track. If you could come now and get it, he won’t see you.

Sighing, I shook my head. I had a ton of things to do and this just threw a wrench into everything.

Me: Sure. I’ll just call Candace and Ashley and have them come over and start the food.

Robby: Cool. Thanks!

Hitting the home button on my phone a little too hard, I tried not to be angry. Damn Stephanie. Why in the hell did she ask Robby to get the cake? That was her job!

“Hey, sweetie!” Candace said in a chipper voice.

“Hey, Candace. Are you and Ashley busy?”

“No, why?”

I didn’t even care that I let out a frustrated moan. “Stephanie asked Robby to pick up the cake and he can’t bring it back here along with Emmit. I don’t want to call her, so I’m going to go get it. Is there anyway y’all could come over and start getting some of this finger food ready? The caterer will be here in forty minutes.”

“Of course, Adaline. Don’t even worry. You head on out, and Ashley and I will be right over.”

As I dashed back up the stairs, I let Lola out back to go pee. “Hurry up girl.” I called out as Lola did her thing and ran back in. Grabbing my purse and keys, I dashed out the door and headed to the shop.

Ten minutes later I pulled up and couldn’t help but notice Stephanie’s BMW. Narrowing my eyes at her car, I shook my head. “What in the hell? If she is here why couldn’t she get the damn cake?” I pushed open my door and quickly got out, slamming it behind me. The anger racing through my body was undeniable. I was going to give her a piece of my mind.

The door to the front office rang when I opened it. I could hear two voices talking as I made my way to the break room. I stopped in my tracks when I heard Emmit’s voice.

“What are you talking about? There is no way in hell I’m telling Addie. No, this has to be kept a secret.”

My heart sunk as I made my way closer to Emmit’s office. “Emmit, I think it’s for the best. She deserves to know the truth.”

“What do you mean, that makes no sense? Why are you even bringing this up, Steph?”

I slowly walked up closer and stopped. I could see through the reflection on the mirror in the hallway. I could have sworn Stephanie looked directly at me in the mirror. Looking away, she said, “I can’t hide it anymore, Emmit.”

“Stephanie, you’re so over reacting. Addie is not going to find out. She’s not very good when it comes to things like this.”

My heart was beating out of control. What in the hell were they talking about? I took another step closer and turned the corner just in time to see Stephanie throw herself into Emmit as their lips met.

My mouth dropped open as I stood there for a second or two and watched my fiancé kiss his assistant. Turning quickly, I rushed out the door as tears streamed down my face.

By the time I reached my car, I was sobbing uncontrollably. “How could he do this to me?” I screamed out as I hit the steering wheel.

Quickly turning the car on, I drove off as fast as I could. The further away I got, the better.

My mind kept replaying Stephanie’s lips on Emmit’s. Shaking my head, I tried to make sense out of what I saw.

How could he do this to me?

To us?

I GRABBED ONTO STEPHANIE’S ARMS and pushed her away as I glared at her. “What in the fuck are you doing?”

Stephanie shook her head and took a step closer to me as I moved back. “Emmit, I can’t hide it anymore. I know there is a connection between us. You can’t deny it.”

I pushed my hand through my hair in frustration as I tried to figure out how we went from talking about a surprise birthday party for Adaline, to Stephanie leaping onto my body and kissing me.

“W-what are you talking about? There is no connection there, Steph, and there never has been. You’re married for Christ’s sake.”

Stephanie’s eyes dropped as she took in a shaky breath. “If Adaline was out of the picture, if she left you, would you want me then, Emmit?”

My eyes widened in horror. “What?”

“She’s going to hurt you eventually. One day she is going to get tired of this life and leave you. But I’ll always be here for you. Always.”

I squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to wipe away everything that just happened in the last two minutes.

As I turned away from Stephanie, I reached into my pocket and pulled my phone out. Hitting Adaline’s number, I dragged in a deep breath. I had to tell her what was happening.

Voicemail.

I tried three more times, and each time it went right to voicemail.

My heart dropped. Adaline never had her phone turned off. I pulled up my mother’s number and hit it.

Stephanie walked up to me and put her hand on my shoulder as I took a step away from her.

“Emmit! How are you sweetheart?”

I didn’t have time for conversation with my mother. I needed to talk to Adaline. “Mom, can you go over to the house and see if Adaline is there?”

“Um—I um, well I can’t do that.”

“Mom, I need to talk to Adaline and her phone is going straight to voicemail.”

“What? Oh God, I hope she’s okay. She left a little bit ago.”

Something inside of me screamed that things weren’t right. Stephanie walked around and stood in front of me as she began to take her shirt off.

“What in the fuck!” I took her by the arm and pushed her out the door. Slamming it shut, I said, “Mom, some crazy shit is happening right now and I need Adaline.”

“Well, if I tell you I’m going to ruin the surprise, but it’s not like her to not answer her phone. Adaline has been planning a surprise birthday party for you. Robby sent her a text saying that Stephanie had dropped the cake off at the shop and that he couldn’t bring it with him because you would see it. So, Adaline headed to the shop just a few minutes ago to pick up the cake.”

Holy shit. This is not happening.

My legs about gave out on me as I turned and looked at Robby’s phone sitting on my desk. I walked over to the phone and pulled up his text messages. There was nothing sent to Adaline in the last thirty minutes.

“Mom, are you sure Robby sent her a text?”

“Or course I’m sure. She should have been there by now.”