"Freya," Leila answered.
She gripped the sink behind her to steady herself while watching her husband. He was allergic to onions? That was new to her, a downer. The peanut allergy was worse.
The shrimp pasta was prepared using her family's old recipe but she would have to eat the food alone when he wasn't home. Or take it to Freya's house as a peace offering.
"A guy?" he asked and she shook her head.
"A girl." She moved away from the sink to arrange the dishes into the cabinet. "Freya is my best friend. The one I was waiting for at the wedding." They had been talking about having a sleepover, the only form of apology her friend would accept. Kelvin took a seat at the dining table and she joined him. "I'll be going to her place in a bit. Will you be okay on your own?"
It was normal for her to spend the night at her friend's for sleepovers and girls night out. Being a remote worker, Freya always wanted her company. Plus, Leila had missed Blu, Freya's cat.
"You're not leaving."
Leila waited for an explanation but got none. He couldn't stop her from going to see her best friend or could he? This whole relationship was complicated. If she disobeyed, would he punish her at work?
Fixing him a look, she asked, "Why not?"
The doorbell rang, Kelvin left her to attend to it. Minutes after he was gone, she was still staring at the door. Different thoughts clouded her head. They barely talked, her presence would make no difference.
Kelvin returned with a bag that had the logo of a food company. She helped with plates and he dished the food. They dug into their meal using the chopsticks until Leila could no longer hold her questions in.
"Why not?" Kelvin looked up from his food. He moved his shoulders in a careless shrug and she slammed her hands on the table. His brow shot up at her behaviour and she hid her hands under the table. "She is my best friend, Kev."
Leila didn't want to be part of the population who forgot everyone that mattered to her after marriage. Kelvin said nothing until he was done eating, and Leila played around with her food until she gave up on it.
"I'll be travelling tomorrow, you can go then," he answered. He could have told her that earlier. "Finish up your food, Leila."
Questions burned in her mind but she remained silent. If he wouldn't tell her about the trip, she wouldn't ask. A regular wife might have asked for his destination but Kelvin treated her more like a staff. She rolled her eyes and mumbled an apology when he caught her.
Once she was done with her meal, she scurried out of the dining room. She heard the faint call of her name but she ignored it. On entering their bedroom, she got her laptop and nightie and made her way to the guest room. Kelvin liked to used the study after dinner, she didn't want to be in the same place with him.
The screen of her laptop came to life, seconds later, her friend's face came into view. Leila waved and Freya waved back. A white cat jumped on Freya's lap and the two ladies laughed. Blu was an attention seeker.
"She's always wanting to be noticed." Freya rubbed the cat's head. "Always." Holding Blu up by its front limbs, she said, "Say hello to your aunty." Leila made a face at the cat. "Darren is on night shift, are you coming?"
Her friend's blue eyes pierced her. Darren, her husband was working two jobs until he could find someone willing to take a risk on his crazy innovation. He was barely home whereas Freya spent most of her days indoors. Her best friend had complained a lot about her husband's tiring work hours but she didn't love him any less.
Leila wanted to be there for her friend but it would upset her husband. "Tomorrow." She bent her screen as she prepared for a lie. "My husband wants us to spend the night together before his trip." At the mention of that word, Freya sat up. Blu ran off to a corner, leaving them alone. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it."
Freya pulled her blonde hair into a bun. "It's fine." It wasn't. Freya had every right to be mad at her. At Freya's wedding, they had joked she would repay the favour by being the chief bridesmaid at Leila's wedding. It made sense then. "Have you two done it?" It took a second for Leila to get it. Her eyes grew wide and she shook her head. Freya laughed. "Is he a good man?"
Kelvin was a lot of things. Calm. Calculated. Quiet. Thoughtful. Kind, sometimes. "I think he is," she said. Freya's countenance changed and she rectified her slip by saying, "He is. He's a good man. You might even know him."
Freya had to know him. A quick research on her husband left her dumbfounded. He was a billionaire at only thirty-five and at one time was named the most eligible bachelor in the US. No one mentioned his dating record. There were a few rumours about his sexuality that Kelvin never cleared. She had a feeling he didn't care about the media and whatever they said about him as long as it didn't affect his business.
"What's his name?" She told her. Freya's jaw unhinged and she shook her head slowly as if it would make Leila's words go away. "You're kidding? The Kelvin McKenna? The hottest man in the world right now?"
Leila laughed. There was a strange feeling of pride in her chest as her friend listed out her husband's achievement.
She leaned forward. "Yup. That one," she said.
"Does he have a single hot friend looking for a wife?"
"Freya," she started in a stern tone that caused her friend to laugh. "You're married to the love of your life."
Her friend's laughter tickled her ears. Darren might not be as wealthy as Kelvin but he loved his wife more than life itself. Love was one of the things she gave up on by agreeing to this arrangement with Kelvin.
"I know. I know." Freya's hand went over her chest as she smiled at Leila. "Do you think you can love him?"
"I don't know," she replied. At Freya's stare, her answer changed. "I don't think I can, Freya."
Leila was remembering her last relationship all over again, it left her heart in pieces and she didn't want a repeat. "I can't love him. I don't think Kelvin can or wants to love me either." A soft sigh left her lips. "It's okay, I guess. Our current arrangement works fine, that's all I care about. He treats me good."
Leila was lying through her teeth. She cared more than she was willing to admit. Freya spoke so much about the connection between her and Darren, and she also wanted to experience that. She wanted to be able to talk to Kelvin about any-and every-thing knowing he would listen and comfort her. She wanted to be loved the right way.
If she tried, she might be able to love him but what if he didn't love her back? He already had mood swings she couldn't fathom. She didn't want to get her heart broken again. She would not survive it this time.
"If you say so," Freya whispered. "But never say never."
A yawn escaped Leila. "Yeah, whatever."
They bid each other farewell, she changed out of her clothes and jumped into the shower. Going back to the room meant facing Kelvin, and Leila wasn't ready for that so she went over the Stars Glow project. Her eyes grew heavy but she was determined to leave the guest room only when Kelvin was fast asleep.
Closing her eyes for a nap, she fell asleep on the desk.
When Leila woke the next day, she was on the bed. The bed in their room. Kelvin's side of the bed was still warm so she went looking for him. Breakfast had been served but there was no Kelvin. He had already left.