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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Two months. That\u2019s how long I had been away, tending to my mother after her surgery. Two long, exhausting months of hospital cafeteria food, uncomfortable chair naps, and constant worry. The only thing that kept me going was the thought of finally returning to my own apartment, my own bed, and, of course, my husband, Michael.<\/p>\n
I had barely been home for an hour, fresh out of the shower, when I heard the front door unlock. My first thought? Michael had stepped out and forgotten something. My second thought? Why hadn\u2019t I heard his car pull up?<\/p>\n
I peeked into the hallway, towel wrapped around my head, still in my bathrobe. That\u2019s when I saw her.<\/p>\n
A young, pretty woman stood there as if she owned the place, her manicured fingers clutching a set of keys. She froze, her expression a mix of confusion and mild annoyance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are YOU?\u201d she blurted out.<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cExcuse me? Who am I? I live here! Who are YOU?\u201d<\/p>\n
She frowned. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen you before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I was away for a couple of months. Who gave you a key to MY apartment?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael,\u201d she said, her tone matter-of-fact. \u201cHe told me I could come anytime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael. My husband.<\/p>\n
A cold sensation spread through my chest, quickly replaced by the slow burn of rage.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, did he?\u201d I said, my voice dangerously calm. \u201cBecause I\u2014his WIFE\u2014am back, and that is definitely news to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her face flickered with something unreadable. Then, as if realizing she had made a terrible mistake, she took a small step back. \u201cWait\u2026 He told me he was single.\u201d<\/p>\n
I folded my arms. \u201cOh, did he now?\u201d<\/p>\n
She frowned harder. \u201cWell. I guess I should go.\u201d<\/p>\n
I wasn\u2019t about to let this go without answers. \u201cNo, wait,\u201d I said. \u201cCome with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
To her credit, she hesitated but eventually followed me. I led her to the kitchen, where Michael was sitting at the counter, peacefully eating a bowl of cereal, blissfully unaware of the domestic disaster about to unfold.<\/p>\n
She glanced at him, then turned back to me and asked, \u201cWho\u2019s THAT?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael looked up mid-chew, cereal spoon hanging in the air. \u201cUh\u2026 what\u2019s happening?\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned back to the woman. \u201cThat\u2019s Michael. My husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyebrows shot up so high I thought they\u2019d fly off her face. \u201cThat\u2019s not Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now it was my turn to be confused. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael, still looking utterly lost, put down his spoon. \u201cI feel like I should be involved in this conversation, but I have no idea what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman pulled out her phone and started swiping furiously through her dating app. After a few seconds, she held up a picture.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t Michael.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
It was Nick.<\/p>\n
Michael\u2019s younger brother. The one who constantly got himself into trouble. The one who borrowed money he never paid back. The one who, apparently, had been using my husband\u2019s name\u2014and our apartment\u2014to impress his dates.<\/p>\n
Michael groaned. \u201cOh, for\u2014now it all makes sense! Nick has been weirdly interested in my schedule these past few months. He\u2019d randomly text asking if I was home or if I had a work trip. I thought he was just being, you know, nosy.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned back to the woman, who was now staring at Nick\u2019s profile like it was an ancient relic she had just unearthed. \u201cLet me guess\u2014he never let you come over when I was home?\u201d<\/p>\n
She shook her head, still stunned. \u201cYeah. Said his \u2018roommate\u2019 was always around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnbelievable,\u201d I muttered.<\/p>\n
Michael ran a hand through his hair. \u201cI swear, I\u2019m going to kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman\u2014who, by now, I felt deserved to have a name\u2014let out a deep breath. \u201cI cannot believe I fell for this. I knew something was off about him, but I ignored the red flags.\u201d She sighed and stuck out her hand. \u201cI\u2019m Sonya, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook it. \u201cNice to meet you. You know, aside from the fact that you broke into my apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTechnically, I was invited,\u201d she said with a weak laugh. Then she straightened. \u201cYou know what? I want revenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael grinned. \u201cOh, we can arrange that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fifteen minutes later, Michael texted Nick.<\/p>\n
Michael: Hey, bro. We\u2019re making lasagna tonight. You should come over.<\/p>\n
Nick\u2019s reply came almost instantly.<\/p>\n
Nick: Oh hell yeah, be there in 20!<\/p>\n
Sonya rubbed her hands together like a villain in a movie. \u201cThis is going to be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes later, Nick walked in like he owned the place, his usual cocky smirk plastered on his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmells amazing,\u201d he said. \u201cWhere\u2019s the\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he saw Sonya.<\/p>\n
And Sonya saw him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, babe!\u201d Nick said, clearly scrambling for an explanation. \u201cWhat a coincidence! You\u2019re here!\u201d<\/p>\n
Sonya folded her arms. \u201cOh, it\u2019s no coincidence, Nick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick\u2019s smile wavered. \u201cUh, what do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael leaned forward. \u201cShe means we all know what you\u2019ve been up to, \u2018Michael.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick turned pale. \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sonya took a deep breath and then, with the kind of dramatic flair that deserved an Oscar, picked up a glass of water and tossed it in Nick\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
Gasps. Silence. Dripping water.<\/p>\n
Nick blinked. \u201cOkay. I deserved that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael nodded. \u201cYeah. You did.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t help it. I burst out laughing. \u201cYou have about ten seconds to explain yourself before we lock you out forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick wiped his face and groaned. \u201cLook, I didn\u2019t think it was a big deal! I just\u2014dating\u2019s expensive, okay? I couldn\u2019t bring her to my place, so I figured, what\u2019s the harm? You guys were never home!\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael crossed his arms. \u201cYou\u2019re paying our rent this month.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick\u2019s mouth fell open. \u201cWhat?!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019re giving Sonya back any gifts she got you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick winced. \u201cEven the AirPods?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sonya shot him a look that could melt steel. \u201cEspecially the AirPods.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick sighed. \u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he sulked out, Sonya turned to me and grinned. \u201cThat was fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael laughed. \u201cDinner\u2019s still on if you want to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sonya considered. \u201cYou know what? Why not? Just promise me there are no more secret brothers hiding around here.\u201d<\/p>\n
I grinned. \u201cJust a cat that likes to judge people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s fair.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s how I made a new friend, got revenge on my lying brother-in-law, and still got to enjoy my first home-cooked meal in two months.<\/p>\n
If that\u2019s not a successful day, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n
Like and share if you enjoyed this wild ride\u2014because honestly, I think I deserve a medal for not kicking Nick out the window.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Two months. That\u2019s how long I had been away, tending to my mother after her surgery. Two long, exhausting months of hospital cafeteria food, uncomfortable chair naps,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25255,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n