Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty

PETER

W hen Ainsley made it home, she rushed inside, hanging her jacket and bag on the coat rack in the hall, and hurried toward me. I smiled at the kids, trying not to let them know anything was wrong, though they didn't seem to care either way. Only Riley asked whether I'd had a good day, but as soon as I'd said yes and asked about his, the kids had all disappeared to their rooms, and I was able to return to my pacing of the hallway.

The television in the living room was on, though the station was on a commercial.

"Okay," Ainsley said, reaching for my arms to stop me from moving. She put a hand on either of my biceps, squaring her body to mine. I felt my heartbeat slowing. "Talk to me. What happened?"

I led her into the living room, gesturing toward the TV.

"They can't find her," I said. "The police said she's wanted for questioning regarding her husband's disappearance, and they can't find her. Her phone and wallet were found at home. Her SUV was there. She's just…she's gone."

"Okay," she said, letting the news wash over her. "But, isn't that a good thing? I mean, I hope she's okay, but if she's wanted for questioning, that means they don't suspect anyone else, right?"

"Maybe," I said, "but even so, if she was a suspect and now she's gone, they'll be coming back to us."

"But we didn't have anything to do with this. Really this time."

I nodded. "I know that, but how are we going to prove it?"

"We don't have to prove anything right now. For all we know, the police have moved on. When they left last night, I'd proved that Stefan was all but stalking me and that we had nothing to do with his disappearance. Maybe they have moved on to Illiana as a suspect and, if she's even missing, we need to wait it out and see what they have to say. There's no need to panic."

I nodded, feeling like there was definitely some need to panic, but I didn't say as much. Instead, I pressed my lips to her forehead. "I'm sorry I'm stressing. I just…"

"I know," she said. "I'm worried, too, but we have to try to keep it together. Both of us. Falling apart right now doesn't solve anything."

"I know you're right." I gathered my hands at my chest, rubbing circles with my thumb on the opposite palm. "I'm freaking out," I said wildly, unable to hold the panic in any longer.

"Where were you last night?" she asked, shocking me back to reality. It was the first time she'd brought it up, and I didn't like the way she was asking.

"Out. I went out."

"Out where? Come on, I need to know in case the police do come around."

I sighed. "I went to grab a beer."

"Okay, good. Where did you go? Somewhere where there'll be camera footage?"

"Er, well, I didn't end up getting in anywhere. That was where I was headed, but I drove around instead. I needed to clear my head."

She nodded but kept her eyes trained on mine. "If there's one thing we don't need right now, it's to lie to each other. We're on the same side. Like we said yesterday. We'd do anything for each other. It's us versus them, always."

"I'm not lying," I swore. "I drove around. That was it."

She studied me, an unreadable expression on her face. "So you didn't do this?"

"Didn't do what? Th-the Illiana thing? You think I…what? You think I did something to her? Are you seriously asking me that?"

"You were gone a long time, Peter. And you were the one saying we needed to take care of the problem."

"I didn't mean that we should kill her. You can't be serious right now, Ainsley. Who do you think I am?" I put a hand over my forehead. "I would never… I mean, what I did to… I feel sick about it. I hate myself. I would never do it again." I put my hand over my stomach, feeling ill as I thought about it. "I physically couldn't."

"Okay," she said, the end of her word an octave higher than the rest, as if she were asking a question.

"What? You don't believe me?"

"I don't know what to believe, Peter. I want to believe you."

"Well, what about you? Where were you?"

"I was home," she said angrily. "And don't you dare point fingers at me. You'd have known where I was if you hadn't stormed out."

"I needed air, Ainsley. Is that a crime?"

"No," she said, "but murder is."

I swallowed, hearing the hint of threat in her voice. "I don't want to fight. That's not what we should be doing right now," I croaked out. "I love you. Us against them, right?"

She didn't answer or fight against it as I pulled her in for a hug, but she didn't return the hug either. "I should go anyway."

" Go? Go where?" I stepped back.

"I'm supposed to go check on Glennon. She needs me."

I swallowed, feeling the fear swoop in again. "Why does she need you?"

She bounced her head back and forth, contemplating. "If I tell you, you can't tell Seth you know. Not yet."

"Know what?" I could barely utter the words.

"She's leaving him."

The statement hit me like a ton of bricks. "Excuse me?"

"Glennon's leaving Seth. She's moving into her mom's house."

"W-why? What happened? How long have you known?"

"I found out like a second before I got home, and I have no idea what happened. I got off the phone to answer your call, but I told her I'd be over as soon as I could. She's in a rough place. I'm not sure when I'll be back. Probably late." She was making her way back toward the door. We had a week. She promised me a week. "Are you okay with the kids for the evening?"

"Wait, Ainsley. Wait. " I reached for her arm, grabbing it harder than I'd meant to. She spun around, glaring at me.

"What? I need to go. She's waiting." She jerked her arm out of my grip.

"There's something we need to talk about. S-something I need to tell you."

"Okay," she said, cocking her hip to the side as she waited.

"It's—can you sit down?"

"You're scaring me…" She eased herself toward the couch and sank down. "What is it?"

"I…" I sat down next to her, putting my head in my hands. "Fuck." It hurt to even let myself think the words, let alone say them aloud. "I'm an idiot. I'm a fucking idiot."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, and I felt her hand graze my shoulder. I shoved it off, shaking my head as hot tears filled my eyes. I didn't deserve her comfort.

"You're going to hate me."

"I could never hate you…" she whispered. "I love you, Peter. Nothing you could ever say would change that."

"I hope you mean that, but I don't think you do."

"Spit it ou—"

"I've been cheating on you," I said, a grimace on my face as I lifted my head from my hands. "With Seth."