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She was followed by Lois, a woman who he claimed was a pro bono client, and finally, the birthday card from Tammy had sent Joyce rushing over to Velma to cry on her shoulder.
    â€œI’m never going back to your brother,” Joyce had said to her sister-in-law.
    Of course, once Vernon came begging and crying, that resolve lasted all of one day.
    And those women—Alicia, Tammy, Lois—were just the ones she knew about. She wasn’t dumb enough to believe that these were the only ones.
    As she introduced Velma to the other couples, she searched for Vernon out of habit. She saw him standing on the outskirts of the crowded bar. Her eyes narrowed as she watched a woman laugh, then place one hand over her cleavage and the other on Vernon’s arm.
    But as if he knew she was watching, he brushed the woman off, taking a couple of steps away from her and shaking his head. That made Joyce smile. Maybe the last time had reallybeen the last time. Just maybe Vernon was going to remain the faithful husband that he always promised to be.
    â€œHey, baby, here’s your drink,” he said, approaching her and handing her a red cup. “It’s just punch, but I have some Jack Daniel’s in the car. I can spike it if you’d like.” He flashed a wicked grin.
    â€œPunch is fine,” she said. “The Jack Daniel’s, maybe later.” She rested her lips on the edge of the cup and looked up at her husband through her eyelashes.
    â€œWhere’s mine?” Velma asked, making Vernon shift his gaze from his wife to his sister.
    â€œOops, I forgot you.”
    â€œWow, so that’s how you treat your sister?”
    â€œSorry, but I’m so blinded by my beautiful wife.” He leaned over and kissed Joyce once again.
    When they pulled apart, Joyce was breathless, but not overpowered enough to keep the words she’d meant to say from escaping. “I saw that woman flirting with you. She wants you.”
    â€œBut I want you,” he replied without hesitation. “Only you.” He kissed her neck. “Now, let me go get my sister a drink so she can feel special since her man is over there telling lies to his friends.”
    â€œWhatever,” Velma said, playfully pushing his shoulder as he walked off.
    Velma smiled at her sister-in-law. Leaning over, she whispered so that no one else at the table could hear, “I’m so happy for you guys. You know I don’t cut for some of my brother’s ways. Our father was a dedicated family man, so I don’t know where he got this gallivanting from.”
    â€œWell, hopefully, it’s over.” Joyce kept her voice just as soft.
    â€œI have to give you your props, though, because you’ve taken more than most women. You’ve definitely taken more than I could.” She eyed Carl across the room, talking to his friends. “Because I already told Carl, if he pulled some of the stuff my brother pulled, we’re gonna be doing a remake of that Farrah Fawcett movie, The Burning Bed .”
    Joyce chuckled, but her sister-in-law wasn’t playing. Everyone knew that, especially Carl. And Carl wasn’t crazy, so he remained faithful, at least as far as everyone knew.
    Joyce propped her elbow on the table, then cupped her chin in her palm. Vernon was maneuvering his way through the thick crowd at the bar. Maybe that’s where she’d gone wrong. She’d never shown Vernon her crazy side. Maybe if she yelled and threw knives, Vernon would have never strayed—at least not more than once.
    She sighed. Why was she spending all of her time thinking about this? She and Vernon were on the right track. She really believed that. She’d never have to worry about unleashing her crazy side. That was good for her and that was definitely good for Vernon.

K eeping secrets had its benefits. Lauren couldn’t help but smile as she sat down at the cafeteria table and twisted the glittering tennis