Maybe the hotel room wasn’t even being used the way I thought.
But then I remembered the sushi.
Two chopsticks.
Two orders of spicy tuna.
A Valentine’s platter.
No business meeting needed a Valentine’s platter.
That evening, Daniel called me.
“Hey, I’ll probably be late again.”
I stared at the wall.
“How late?”
“Maybe midnight.”
“Okay.”
“You alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“You sound weird.”
“I’m just tired.”
He said he loved me.
I said it back.
Then I did something I had never done before.
I followed him.
I waited until he left.
Then I drove downtown.
The Hilton lobby was bright and quiet.
I parked two blocks away and walked inside.
My hands were sweating.
I felt ridiculous.
What was I even going to do?
Knock on the door?
Ask the receptionist who was staying there?
Tell them my husband was cheating?
I almost turned around.
Then I saw the elevator.
Sixth floor.
The doors opened.
I stepped out.
The hallway was silent.
I walked slowly.
Then I saw it.
612.
I stopped.
I could hear voices inside.
A man’s voice.
Daniel.
My husband.
Then a woman’s voice.
I couldn’t make out the words.
I stepped closer.
My heart was beating so hard that I thought they might hear it through the door.
Then I heard Emily.
“She still doesn’t know?”
I stopped breathing.
Daniel answered.
“No.”
A pause.
“How long are you going to keep lying to her?”
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
Then Daniel said something that made my entire body go cold.