He Borrowed My Porsche for My Wife

"Emmett, give me the car keys.

"I'm heading to the next city to meet this girl I got set up with. She's loaded, worth millions. I can't exactly show up looking broke."

Trent Harlow walked in, dropped onto the couch, and held out his hand.

I looked at the Porsche key sitting on the coffee table. I had picked the car up just last week and had barely driven it myself.

"Trent, I haven't even broken it in yet. Why don't you take the Audi instead?" I kept my voice even.

"The Audi? You want me to show up to a date in that piece of junk?"

Trent shot to his feet, his expression souring instantly. "Emmett, we grew up together. We're brothers and yet you're hemming and hawing over a car? What, you think I'm gonna wreck it?"

My wife, Camille, came out of the bedroom in a silk camisole, still halfway through her makeup. She rolled her eyes at me.

"Emmett, it's bad enough you're cheap about everything else. Trent is your best friend.

"He's about to land himself a wife, and instead of helping, you're dragging your feet. What? You can't stand to see him do better than you?"

I frowned. I could no longer tell whether she was my wife or his. She always took his side.

Trent raised an eyebrow, looking pleased. "See? Your wife gets it.

"Emmett, if you won't lend me the car, then we're done. No more brotherhood."

I looked at Trent as he stood there, pushing me into a corner, and then at Camille with that cold smirk on her face.

Over the years, Trent had borrowed money, mooched meals, and never paid back a cent, all in the name of brotherhood. Camille was no better. She had access to my bank account and sent money to her parents every month without asking.

Still, the holiday was right around the corner and I did not want to start a fight over something like this.

"Fine. Take it."

I took a deep breath, picked up the key, and handed it to Trent.

Trent snatched it out of my hand and grinned. "That's more like it.

"Oh, and the car's out of gas. Go fill it up for me while you're at it. I've got a couple hundred miles to cover."

Camille chimed in. "Hurry up. Don't mess this up for him."

I did not say anything. I turned around and headed downstairs.

After filling up the tank at the gas station, I stopped by the convenience store, bought a box of condoms, and left them in the center console.

When I got back upstairs, I handed the car over to Trent. "Tank's full.

"I left a little something in the console for you. That's the best I can do, brother.

"Good luck tonight."

Trent clapped me on the shoulder, and there was something in his smile I could not quite read. "Thanks, brother. Tonight's gonna be one hell of a night. I guarantee it."

Trent had barely walked out the door when Camille picked up a phone call. "Oh no, Bria just got dumped and she's a total mess. I need to go over there."

She rushed into the walk-in closet as she spoke. Ten minutes later, she reappeared at the front door in full makeup, perfume on, bag in hand.

"Figure out dinner on your own. I'm staying at Bria's tonight."

Before I could say a word, the door slammed shut behind her.

The apartment went quiet. It was just me and an empty living room.

After I finished cleaning up the living room, I went into the walk-in closet to sort through the clothes Camille had thrown around. In the bottom drawer, I noticed her black lace lingerie set was missing.

It was a set she had bought but had never once worn for me.