**Revenge**
«Listen, Lucy, I promised a colleague I’d help him move house today.»
«Today?» Lucy eyed her husband with suspicion.
«He just bought a new flattwo bedrooms. His wifes about to give birth.»
«Last weekend, you were out christening someones brand-new car. Your colleagues seem so successful. Meanwhile, weve got neither a new car nor a bigger flat. Why is that, James?»
«Dont start, Luce. I swear, next weekend well spend it together.» James wrapped an arm around her, peering into her eyes.
«Ill believe it when I see it. Every weekend, its some unforeseen errand.» She pulled away.
«Fine. Want me to call and cancel?» James scowled.
«No. You promised, so go.»
His face brightened instantly.
«Luce, youre an absolute gem. So Ill go?» He leaned in for a kiss, but she pressed a hand to his chest, pushing him back lightly.
«Just dont forget about next weekend,» she said.
***
Theyd all studied together at universitythe three of them. As often happens, Lucy had liked James, while Alex had liked her. They attended lectures, went to the cinema, the lads walked her home. One day, Alex confessed his feelings.
«Sorry, but its James I fancy,» Lucy admitted honestly.
«Fair enough. Cant force the heart,» Alex sighed.
After that, he stopped sitting with them in lectures, stopped walking her home. If they met at a café, hed leave early.
James had a small flat inherited from his grandfather. The whole gang used to crash there. Lucy visited but never stayed the night, no matter how James coaxed her. But on New Years Eve, she did. Soon, they moved in together.
Alex rarely visitedhe couldnt bear seeing his rivals happiness, even if James was his friend.
«When are you two getting married?» he asked once, during their graduation celebration.
«Were fine as we are, right, Luce?» James answered for them both.
Lucy lowered her gaze and stayed silent.
«Youre wrong. Every girl dreams of a wedding and a white dress. Lucy, ditch himmarry me instead,» Alex blurted.
James shot him a dark look.
«Actually, I was planning to propose. Just waiting for the right moment.» James pulled a ring from his pocket. «Will you marry me?» His gaze bored into her.
Lucy flushed with joy.
«Of course,» she said, not noticing Alex slip away.
Two months later, Alex stood as their best man.
«Lucy, if he ever hurts you, tell me straight away,» he said at the reception.
«Planning to marry anyone yourself?» Lucy teased.
«Hes just waiting for us to divorce,» James laughed. «Not happening.» He flashed Alex a triumphant smirk.
«Enough,» Lucy cut in. «Lets dance.» She tugged James from the table.
Three months into their marriage, Alex arrived at Lucys birthday with an enormous bouquet of scarlet roses. After the guests left, James fumed, accusing her of making too big a deal of the gift. Everyone had noticedit humiliated him.
«Dont be jealous. I only love you,» Lucy said.
«Hope so,» James muttered.
Three years passed. They were happy, but rows simmeredmostly over Jamess jealousy. He resented any man who glanced at Lucy, demanding she stay home once she had a child. But Lucy wanted to work, gain experience first. Lately, though, James had been acting oddvanishing every weekend, or sulking if he stayed.
«Alex, is James seeing someone?» Lucy asked bluntly one day.
«Lucy, come onhe loves you,» Alex said, avoiding her eyes.
«Youre a terrible liar,» she smirked.
***
This time, James had bolted again. Lucy sighed and cleaned. As the flat gleamed and laundry dried on the balcony, the doorbell rang. She hoped it was Jamesbut he had his own key.
Opening the door, she found Alex.
«You? Wheres James?»
«Hes not here?» Alex countered. «Mind if I come in?»
She let him in, offering tea. Silence stretched.
«Lucy I still fancy you,» Alex admitted suddenly.
«Alex, I thought youd moved on.»
«Just wanted you to know.»
«Theres something else.» He sipped his tea, avoiding her gaze.
«Should I be worried?»
«James thinks youre cheating. That youre seeing someone.»
Lucy laughed bitterly. «Did he send you to spy? Theres no one. You said it yourselfI love him.»
«He asked me to flirt with you. To test you.» Alex reddened.
«A test?» Lucys voice was icy. «Did you know hed be gone today?»
«Lucy, I agreed to comebut nothing else. Thats why Im telling you.»
«This is low. From both of you. You know what they saypeople suspect others of what theyre guilty of themselves. Is he seeing someone?»
«I dont know.» Alex stood, wiping sweat from his brow. Lucy cut him off.
«You should go.»
«Right. Lucy, Im here if you need me.»
«Just leave.»
Alone, Lucy seethed. Testing herwith his friend? Or was Alex lying to split them? But why confess? Fury swelled. Maybe she should be the jealous one. Where *was* James every weekend?
She stayed calm, planning her next move.
When James returned, she served dinner. He looked anything but tired.
«All moved in?» she asked lightly.
«Yep.»
«No celebratory drink?»
«His wifes pregnant, like I said.»
«Mustve moved to another city. You took long enough.»
«Furniture took ages,» James mumbled into his plate.
«Alex dropped by. Why didnt you ask him to help?»
«Said he was busy. Whatd he want?» James glanced up.
«Just chatted. Had tea.» She watched him closely.
«Im knackered. Off to shower.» He stood abruptly.
Days later, Lucy settled on revenge. If hed test her, shed test him. Her coworker, Evabold, flirtatiouswas perfect. Over coffee, Lucy outlined her plan.
«You sure?» Eva grinned.
«Just make it convincing. A kiss, nothing more.»
Eva smirked. «He worth it?»
«Decent enough. Saturday, hell be home. Ill say Im babysitting. You show upsay youre waiting for me. Play it by ear.»
«No regrets?»
Lucy hesitated. «Just do it.»
Saturday came. James sulked when Lucy said shed be out.
«A colleagues dropping off documents. Wait for her, will you?»
She shopped, phone off, guilt gnawing. What if this backfired? Revenge was petty. She rushed back, bursting in like a storm.
The couple on the sofa sprang apartbut not fast enough.
«Lucy?!» James scrambled up, dishevelled.
«Expecting someone else?»
Eva stood, smoothing her dress, and strolled past Lucy without a word. The door slammed.
«Lucy, its not what»
«What *should* I think? With *my* friend? On *our* sofa?»
«Lucy, she But Im only human»
«Spare me. Were even. You cant be trusted. Id have been stuck at home with a baby while you helped friends? And sending Alex? Thats vile.»
«He *told* you? That little»
«Hes *my* friend too.»
«Lucy, enough games. Im sorry, but youre not innocent»
«*Games*? If Id come later, would you have slept with her? In *our* home?»
«Lucy, please»
«No more lies. No more suspicion. The flats yours. Ill leave.»
«To Alex?» James snapped.
«Prat.» She glared.
At her parents, she announced the divorce.
«Stay till you find a place,» her dad grumbled.
«Dont rent. Weve savings. Enough for a flat.»
«Dad, no»
«Just listen for once.»
Autumn rains turned to winter. New Years Eve, Lucy wanted solitude. A week after she left, James moved another woman inno patience for divorce papers.
At midnight, her doorbell rang. Alex stood there, holding a tiny decorated tree.
«Knew youd be alone.»
They drank under the clocks chime.
«Bet I know your wish,» Lucy said.
«Same as yours.» They laughed, lightness returning.
A year later, they married. Nine months after thattwins. Two girls. Happiness, served full measure.
Sometimes, revenge settles thingsneatly, finally.
