Hot Shower, Cold Heart by Mark Twain 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Ice floods through my veins.
I can’t look away from him.
Zach stands up like nothing happened, crosses his hands, and presses down on Naomi’s chest. “After rescue breaths, you compress in rhythm-”
Someone yells out, laughing: “Naomi! Thought you said CPR was totally innocent?”
“Why’s your face so red?”
Naomi sits up, spitting back: “You’d blush too if Coach touched you! Mad you didn’t get a turn?”
Everyone roars with laughter.
And Zach? He doesn’t correct her. Just smiles. Fondly.
My hands are shaking on the steering wheel.
I wait until dinner to catch Naomi.
She’s goofing off with her roommates, laughing loud enough to hear from across the quad.
“Coach invited you to dinner and you said no? Stop playing innocent, babe!”
“It’s called strategy, dumbass. Make him chase!”
Naomi fake-coughs. “You guys are delusional. I barely know him. Stop/spreading rumors!”
A cold laugh bubbles up in my throat.
Barely know him?
Barely know him, but you’re showering in my bathroom and fucking in my bed?
What’s next-inviting me to watch you check into a hotel?
I walk past the crowd and sit directly across from her.
One look at my clothes, my hair, my makeup-she knows I’m not a student.
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Hot Shower, Cold Heart: How Water Temperature Exposed My Military Husband’s Affair
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Chapter 2
Her eyes flicker nervously. Then she smiles. “Hi! Um, you looking for someone? There’s plenty of space-you don’t need to share a table.”
I ignore the act. “Naomi. You know Zach’s my husband, right?”
Zach’s thirty years old. At that age, unless a guy’s gay or dying, he’s married.
And our wedding photo’s hanging right above his bed.
There’s no way she didn’t know.
Her roommates go silent.
Naomi blinks innocently. “Oh! Should I call you Mrs. Carter? Is something wrong?”
When I don’t answer, she gasps like she just figured it out. “Wait-did you see the CPR demo? Mrs. Carter, I promise it was just training. Totally professional.”
Is she fucking serious right now?
Does she think I’m some clueless housewife?
I smile coldly. “You’re in clinical med, right? Senior year-you’ve taken Surgery by now. Check the cardiovascular chapter. I’m listed as co-editor.”
“I’m Vivian Ashford. Deputy Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the military hospital.”
“Looking forward to your rotation in my department.”
Her face drains of color.
My gaze drops to her wrist. A jade bracelet glints softly under the fluorescent lights.
“Nice bracelet.”
My voice is flat. “But it belonged to my father. I’d like it back.”
Naomi’s head snaps up.
Her lips tremble. Her face flushes red.
Finally, she takes it off.
Four years ago, my dad died of cancer.
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Hot Shower, Cold Heart: How Water Temperature Exposed My Military Husband’s Affair
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Chapter 2
Before he went, he pressed that bracelet into my hand. “Vivian… this has been in our family for generations. Zach loves you. Pass it down. Then I can rest in peace.”
Zach cried that day. Swore he’d take care of me forever.
And I lost it.
For a year, I couldn’t eat. Couldn’t sleep. The guilt nearly killed me.
Zach kept saying he’d buy me new jewelry. Better jewelry.
Turns out, he didn’t lose it.
He gave it to her.
I pull into the driveway, USB drive with the dashcam footage in hand.
Zach storms out before I even get the door open.
“You went to the academy today?”
His voice is sharp. Angry. “Why the hell didn’t you talk to me first? You embarrassed Naomi in front of everyone!”
“Do you have any idea how to act like a fucking adult?”
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Hot Shower, Cold Heart: How Water Temperature Exposed My Military Husband’s Affair
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