A little chat between cheaters

The familiar scent of paint and varnish washed over May, mingling with the faint sounds of art enthusiasts chatting and the soft music playing in the background. The walls were adorned with beautiful work, but May's gaze was fixed on the back stairwell that led to the studio. Amelia nudged her playfully. “Well, here we go. Ready to face the music?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” May sighed.

They made their way back and up the narrow stairs. May’s palms felt clammy as she reached for the door leading to Elliott’s studio. She knocked three times. A moment later the door swung open, revealing Elliott. He looked from May to her friend. “What a surprise,” he said evenly.

“Surprise!” Amelia agreed, grinning broadly. “Don’t worry, I’m not here for a threesome.”

May shot her a warning look. Elliott chuckled, running a hand through his tousled hair, the warm light of the studio framing him. “I guess you should come in,” he said, stepping aside. “I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon.”

As they entered, May’s gaze swept across the studio. It felt comfortable. She knew that was a bad thing. “We need to talk,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. Amelia’s presence beside her was a source of silent support.

Elliott crossed his arms. He kept glancing at Amelia, unsure of her role here. She leaned against one of the pillars and inspected his easel suspiciously. “What’s on your mind?” Elliott asked.

May met his gaze. “I—I wanted to talk about what happened,” she started.

Elliott nodded. “Right. I didn’t expect it either,” he said. May thought it was a strange comment.

“Unexpected is one way to put it,” she replied, her voice catching slightly. “I never planned to… to cross that line. My husband would divorce me in a second if he ever found out.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” said Elliott. “I can’t pretend it didn’t mean something.”

“Of course it meant something!” May blurted. “But I’m married. I can’t just ignore that.”

Amelia, sensing the tension, chimed in. “Look, maybe we can hash this out without too much drama. You both had fun, but at the end of the day, we have to be grown ups here.”