She wants him out.

"I don't see how that is any of your business," Alyssa retorted even as she tried to remember the last time she and her husband had sex. With a small gasp she realized that it had been almost six months and she was suddenly curious how Darren would have known that. "Please leave, Darren," Alyssa said, the **** seeming to drain out of her as she wondered what her neighbor was getting at.

"I'll go if you really want me to, 'Lyssa," Darren said, "but I think you want to know why your husband hasn't been more attentive to you recently. Would you like to know?" He asked suddenly acting more courteous towards her.

Alyssa wanted to be left alone, she wanted time to think about what Darren was hinting at but instead she found herself looking at her neighbor, softly asking him to tell her.

"Well, 'Lyssa," Darren said. "The reason your husband hasn't paid any attention to you for the last couple of months is because he's been cheating on you. He's getting some on the side. While your home working to keep the house up Seth is out fucking around on you." Darren explained to a disbelieving Alyssa.

"How...How do you know this?" Alyssa asked softly trying not to believe what she was hearing although it certainly matched her husband's strange behavior recently.

"Because he's sleeping with my wife, Alyssa," Darren tells her, his gruff voice suddenly seeming to become very tired and defeated. "Seth and Renee have been cheating on us both," Darren said softly, "I thought she was cheating on me so I hired a private investigator to follow her. I've got the photographs next door if you want to see them," He offered.

"No, I don't think I want to see them, Darren," Alyssa said softly laying a consoling hand on his shoulder. "Why didn't you just tell me, Darren?" Alyssa asked, "Why did you try forcing yourself on me first?"

"I'm sorry, Alyssa," Darren said almost sobbing, "I've been so confused and angry ever since I found out that I haven't been acting like myself. Please forgive me," The large man almost begs.

"Don't worry about it, Darren," Alyssa says patting his shoulder reassuringly. "I understand but I think that you and I need to talk," She says forgivingly, as she takes his hand. "Would you like a drink?" She offers as she leads him into the living room.

"No, thank you," Darren said softly as he let himself be led to the sofa. He sat down slowly and stared forlornly at the floor.

Alyssa sat down opposite him taking a few minutes to think over all he had told her. Finally she could stand his silence no longer and clearing her throat she asked Darren when he had found out about their spouses infidelity.

"About three or four weeks ago," Darren said softly. "I hired the investigator about two months ago, it only took him a couple of days to track them down and a few weeks to collect all the evidence. I've got all the proof I need to get a divorce but I haven't confronted Renee with it yet. I just don't know what to do anymore." He confessed with a loud sob as he buried his face in his hands.

Alyssa sat for a few seconds considering her neighbor. Darren was a large man but not soft, he stood a good foot taller then Alyssa's own five foot three and his broad shoulders made him seem much larger then he actually was. His dark hair was cut short and although she wouldn't call him handsome Darren wasn't an unattractive man. His usual gruff manner was the main reason she had never liked him but now seeing him sitting across from her, **** and sad, Alyssa found herself reconsidering the man. As he sat there his face hidden from her by his large hands Alyssa felt a sudden wave of pity for him and standing up she sat down next to him, putting her arm around his shoulder. "It'll be all right," She said soothingly as she hugged him to her, trying to console him in his misery. As he buried his face in her shoulder, his body heaving with silent sobs, Alyssa was amazed at herself as she felt a sudden desire for the man. Trying to ignore her sudden impulse the attractive wife and mother continued to comfort her neighbor until his sobs subsided.

Lifting his face from her shoulder, Darren looked at Alyssa his eyes red from his silent weeping. "I'm sorry about my behavior today, Alyssa." He said softly. "I'm not usually like this." He explains in an ashamed tone of voice.

"It's okay, Darren," Alyssa says soothingly, trying to fight her sudden attraction to her normally gruff neighbor. "You've been through a lot and you deserve to be able to let your guard down." She tells him.

"Thank you for understanding, Alyssa," Darren says smiling weakly in way of thanks. "Now what did you want to talk about?" He asked hoping to redirect the conversation towards a more comfortable area then his momentary weakness.