Page 194 of Power
“I’m not gay,” he blurted.
“Okkkkaaaaay.”
“I’ve been seeing Jerod. Jerod De Clerq.”
“Jesus,” Luciano murmured in her ear. “Fucking hypocrite.”
“Are you in love?” Simone asked.
“It’s lust. One-hundred percent. He has this kind of psychosexual hold over me. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I’ve been going to the gym five nights a week. I’m in the best shape of my life. I can’t stop thinking about him. It’s hard to put into words the kind of spell he’s cast on me.”
Simone wasn’t sure where to go with this. “Are you thinking of leaving Lucy?”
He reared back. “God, no. I love my wife, but I can’t stop myself from seeing Jerod. I know I need to break it off with him.”
“No fucking kidding,” Luciano growled.
The situation wasnotfunny, but Luciano’s reactions made her want to laugh.
“How does Jerod feel?” she asked.
He stared at her for the longest time. “I don’t know.”
“That’s a good place to start.”
“Nice,” Luciano whispered.
“Maybeyoucould talk to him,” Peter said. “Find out how he feels.”
What the hell…
She felt spidery. This wasnotsomething she would take on. Jerod had Becca, she was moving to the area for him. Was Jerod bisexual? Was he a closet homosexual? Was his relationship with Peter a manipulation play?
Playing dumb, she asked, “Is Jerod also having an affair?”
“He’s never talked about anyone, so I assumed he’s single,” Peter replied.
“What a cluster fuck,” Luciano whispered.
“I didn’t know his sexual orientation until he came on to me.” Peter leaned close again. “It was the most intense sex I’d ever had in my life. I thought I was gonna lose my mind.”
She wanted to scream, “TMI! TMI!”, but she just nodded. “Sounds like you should talk to him. Find out what next steps could look like for you both.”
At this point, she was channeling her friend and former therapist, Liv Savage.
He heaved in a deep breath, released a long sigh. “You must think I’m a monster.”
“Because you’re gay?” She laughed. “My brother is gay. I adore him and his husband.”
“Because I’m having an affair and I was so angry because my ex had had one.”
“Karma, asshole,” Luciano murmured.
Simone bit back a smile.
“Relationships are complicated,” she said. “I’m the last person who should be giving advice, but I do know that talking helps. Find out where his head and his heart are. Think about your own feelings.”
“I feel intense passion and the worst guilt.” Peter hung his head.
