Heather put the phone down and went downstairs, finally joining Keith for dinner. She pulled out the chair and sat at the table, picking up her knife and fork and taking a few bites before bringing the subject up.
"So," she started casually. "Desiree is going to be in town this week for a seminar." She stopped at that, waiting to see her husband's reaction.
Keith seemed to have none, just continuing to eat his food. Then he looked up for a moment, grabbing her eyes with his, and shrugged.
"Oh," he said.
Heather sighed. Even after two years of marriage she had trouble reading her husband's feelings. She knew he hated Desiree, her friend since college, but she couldn't tell if he was on the brink of forbidding Heather to see her friend while Desiree was in town, or ready to open his arms and allow Des to stay in their home. Heather hoped that he felt the latter, because that's what she'd insisted Desiree do.
"I was thinking," she started, moving her food around on her plate nervously, "That Des could stay here while she's in town. I mean, hotels are so expensive and she's so low on cash and it wouldn't hurt and she's my friend, you know." Her reasons trailed off into mumbles as she stared at her plate, scared to look into Keith's face.
Keith calmly rose from the table, set his napkin next to his unfinished meal, and stormed upstairs.
Heather pushed away from the table and ran after him, grabbing him from behind in a big bear hug, her arms wrapped around his chest. She leaned her cheek against his back, and nuzzled him.
"C'mon, baby," she coaxed. "It's not that bad, is it? She's just going to be here a week. You'll be working most of the time, anyways."
"Why didn't you ask me first?" he said. "You know I would have said yes. I just wish you would have asked me."
"Sweetie," Heather said, going around him to look him in the face. She ran her finger down his smooth cheek, tracing the contours of his face, and resting the pad of her finger on his lips. "I'm sorry, honey," she said. She looked deeply into his eyes, hoping that her expression would calm his anger towards her.
Holding one arm around his waist, she dropped the hand from his lips and moved it over his crotch, gently massaging through the pants. She felt a bulge building, and smiled seductively up at her husband.
"Is it really that bad, baby?" she asked sweetly, slowly bending to her knees.