**Revenge**
“Listen, Emily, I promised a colleague Id help him move today,” James said, adjusting his jacket.
“Today?” Emily raised an eyebrow. “Didnt you just celebrate someones new car last Saturday? All your colleagues seem so successful. Meanwhile, weve got neither a new car nor a bigger flat. Why is that, James?”
“Dont nag, love. I swear, next weekends all yours.” He pulled her close, searching her eyes.
“Somehow I doubt that. Every weekend, theres some unexpected thing with you.” She stepped back.
“What, you want me to cancel? Should I call and say I cant help?” James frowned.
“No. You promisedgo.”
His face brightened instantly. “Youre an angel, Em. So, Ill go?” He leaned in, but she pressed a hand to his chest.
“Just dont forget about next weekend.”
***
Theyd all met at universityEmily, James, and Oliver. As often happens, Oliver fancied Emily, but she only had eyes for James. They attended lectures together, went to the cinema, and the boys walked her home. One day, Oliver confessed.
“Im sorry, but its James for me,” Emily admitted honestly.
“Fair enough. The heart wants what it wants,” Oliver sighed.
After that, he stopped sitting with them, avoided walking her home. If they met at a café, hed leave early.
James had a small flat, inherited from his grandfather. The whole group often gathered there, Emily includedthough she never stayed the night, no matter how he begged. But one New Years Eve, she did. Soon after, they moved in together.
Oliver rarely visited. Watching his rivals happiness was too much, even if James was his friend.
“When are you two getting married?” he asked during their graduation celebration.
“Were fine as we are, right, Em?” James answered for them both.
Emily looked down, silent.
“Youre wrong. Every girl dreams of a wedding and a white dress. Emily, dump himmarry me,” Oliver blurted.
James shot him a dark look.
“Actually, Ive been planning to propose. Just waiting for the right moment.” He pulled out a ring. “Will you marry me?”
Emily flushed with joy. “Of course.” She didnt notice Oliver slip away.
Two months later, he stood as their witness.
“Em, if he ever hurts you, tell me,” Oliver said at the reception.
“When are *you* getting married?” Emily teased.
“Hes waiting for our divorce,” James laughed. “Keep dreaming.” He smirked at Oliver.
“Enough,” Emily cut in. “Lets dance.” She tugged James away.
Three months into the marriage, Oliver arrived at Emilys birthday with a bouquet of deep red roses. After the guests left, James fumedeveryone had noticed her delighted reaction, and it grated on him.
“Dont be jealous. I only love you,” Emily said.
“Hope so,” James muttered.
Three years passed. They were happy, but Jamess jealousy sparked frequent rows. He resented any attention men paid to Emily, pushing her to have children and stay home. She wanted to work first, gain experience. Lately, though, James had been acting oddvanishing every weekend, irritable when home.
“Oliver, does James have someone else?” Emily asked bluntly one day.
“Em, he loves you,” Oliver said, avoiding her gaze.
“Youre a terrible liar.”
***
James was gone again. Emily sighed and cleaned the flat. As she folded laundry, the doorbell rang. James had a keywho could it be?
Oliver stood there.
“You? Wheres James?”
“Hes not here?” Oliver stepped inside. “Tea?”
They sipped in awkward silence.
“Emily, I still fancy you,” Oliver suddenly said.
“I thought youd moved on.”
“Just wanted you to know.”
“Theres more.” He set down his cup. “James thinks youre cheating. He asked me to… test you. Flirt, see if youd respond.”
Emilys grip tightened on her mug. “What?”
“He thought if anyone should try, itd be me. But I refusedthen came clean.”
“You *knew* he wasnt home?”
“I agreed to come, not to trick you.” He wiped his brow. “This is wrong.”
“Get out.”
Alone, Emily seethed. Jamess suspicion likely meant *he* was guilty. Shed get proof.
At work, there was Evebold, unattached. Over coffee, Emily laid out her plan.
“You want me to seduce your husband?” Eve smirked.
“Just enough for me to catch you. Hes home SaturdayIll say Im babysitting.”
“Your funeral,” Eve shrugged.
On Saturday, Emily left after mentioning Eve would drop by. But guilt gnawed at her. Revenge was petty. She rushed backand froze in the doorway.
James and Eve sprang apart on the sofa.
“Emily!” James stammered.
“Expecting someone else?” Eve smoothed her dress and sauntered out.
“Its not what”
“Spare me. Were even now. Im done.”
“He *told* you?” James groaned. “I knew he would.”
“Unlike you, hes *my* friend too.”
Emily moved in with her parents. James wasted no time replacing her. By New Years, she was aloneuntil Oliver arrived with a tiny decorated tree.
“Knew youd be here,” he said.
They drank under the chimes, laughing. A year later, they married. Nine months after that, twins arrived.
Sometimes revenge clears the airfor good.
