My Little Secret by Anna J. Page A

six-hour drive by herself, but when she informed me that her publicist and someone she was cool with from her book club and another author agreed to go, I felt a lot better.
    She couldn’t understand that it was my husband’s birthday, and as his wife I didn’t have a choice in the matter. His birthday was that Monday, and I couldn’t see spending an entire weekend out of town then having to rush back to set things up for him.
    Long story short, she left for Norfolk, but not before giving me a key to her spot and requesting that I be there when she got back. That weekend I went all out shopping for candles and sexy lingerie, as well as setting up a meal plan for dinner that night.
    I left for work that morning like I usually did, so as not to draw attention to my surprise later that evening. Ray agreed to be home by eight for a dinner date that I told him I set up for his birthday at his favorite restaurant in Center City. I left the house long enough for him to leave before I doubled back to set everything up.
    Ray’s favorite color was burnt orange, so I pulled out all of the new linen and window treatments I purchased from Bed, Bath & Beyond, and worked on creating a romantic atmosphere with candles to match. I purchased a bag of peach petals to float on top of the bath water I would run later, and after setting up my dinner menu, I went up and got ready for him, slipping into lingerie that matched the bedroom.
    I had a trail of rose petals and candlelight leading from the front door to the bedroom. When he walked into the house, there was a shot of Hennessy on the table at the door with instructions for him to drink it before he came upstairs. I chose Hennessy because I knew after drinking that I was guaranteed an all-nighter . . . hopefully.
    Everything was perfect. I had the serving tray set up in the bedroom, all of the candles were lit, and I was smelling and looking delicious as I lay stretched across the bed. I made sure to give our housekeeper the night off, just in case we got into something kinky and it got loud up in there.
    The house was completely dark, except for the light from the candles that led a trail to the room. I heard Ray pull up to the house at five of eight, so I stretched out on the bed in a sexy pose for him.
    Within a couple of seconds he was upstairs flicking on the lights and pulling clothes out of the closet. My entire mood was cut dead short, and it was like he didn’t even see me lying there. I turned off the radio as I got out of the bed because I didn’t even want the smooth sounds of Luther Vandross to be mixed in with the words I was about to spit out.
    â€œRay, is this how you come in? What’s all this about?” I asked, trying to stop him from pulling more clothes out of the closet in the process.
    â€œBabe, I’m so sorry. I have to be in L.A. in the morning, and I have a redeye flight scheduled for midnight,” he said, finally stopping to look at me.
    â€œBut it’s your birthday, and I did all of this for you,” I said as I turned in a circle pointing to all of the things in the room and myself.
    â€œI know, and I’m sorry. Just put the food and stuff in the fridge. I’ll be home on Wednesday night. You can reheat it and we can eat then—”
    â€œYou can’t reheat lobster, you idiot! I can’t believe this!”
    â€œJaydah, I didn’t know I—”
    â€œFuck you, Ray! Just go on about your business.”
    He was saying some shit, but I didn’t hear anything that came out of his mouth. I was dressed in no time, leaving him in the house. He called my cell phone the entire time, but I didn’t bother to answer.
    Jaydah had gotten back in town that same morning, and even though I knew she was upset, I went over there anyway.
    Pulling up to her condo about forty-five minutes later, I haphazardly parked my car and ran up the steps to her front door. When I walked in, she was busy typing