The four of you were the kings and queens of Stanford. It didn’t matter where life took you because you’d do everything together. That was until you married Patrick and Art married Tashi. It was logical. Tashi always pushed art to improve, and you made Patrick less of a wild card. Equilibrium is what you guys would say. Lily and Luke were the epitome of perfection; Tashi would joke that the only boy she’d ever allow Lily to date was Luke. Maybe because she wanted to continue your elite group, conserve them from the world outside and the disappointment.

Work trips were fun until you and Art had far too many drinks and spent the night together. None of you told Tashi or Patrick or blackmailed the other. It was a silent acknowledgment that it was just the beginning. Weeks after you found out, Patrick saw other women while playing out of town. Looking up at the night sky, you wondered if this was a sick joke. You asked if it might have been because he found out about you and Art.

”Don’t blame yourself; we both knew Patrick was never loyal. Not in Stanford, and fatherhood wasn’t going to stop him.” Art leaned against the railing beside you before grabbing your hand and bringing it to his lips to place a soft kiss.