On Our 10-Year Marriage Anniversary, My Husband Asked to Sleep With Other Women — So I Made the Exact Same Rule Apply to Me
Chapter 1 - The Toast That Ruined Dinner
The Rosewood Room was the kind of place Grant only picked when he wanted credit for the effort. White tablecloths, a candle burning low between us, a violinist tucked somewhere behind the wine rack. Ten years of marriage, and he'd finally booked the restaurant I'd been hinting about since our fifth anniversary.
I should have known something was wrong when he ordered the expensive bottle without once glancing at the price.
"So, Danielle," he said, swirling his glass like a man in a cologne ad. "I've been thinking."
Fifteen years of knowing Grant had taught me that those four words were a weather warning. This was the man who once tried to reshingle our roof during a thunderstorm because the ladder was "already out anyway."
"About what?" I asked.
He reached across the table and patted the back of my hand, the way you touch someone right before you do them a favor.
"You're exhausted all the time. The kids, the house, all of it — I see how much it takes out of you. So I've been trying to come up with a way to take some pressure off you."
"Okay," I said slowly. "And?"
"I think we should open up the marriage."
I set my fork down. "Open it up."
"Yeah. You know. I go out, meet some real women, blow off a little steam — and you don't have to stress about keeping me happy anymore. You just focus on the kids. It works for both of us."
"Real women," I repeated.
"You know what I mean."
Something cracked behind my ribs. Quiet and clean, like a plate splitting in the bottom of the sink.
For about thirty seconds I pictured the wine in his lap and the whole dining room turning to stare. It would have felt incredible. Then a better idea walked in and pulled up a chair.
I leaned back. Picked my fork up again. Smiled.
"You know what, Grant? You're right."
His whole face lit up. "Really?"
"Absolutely." Sweet as the tiramisu between us. "As long as the rule runs both ways. Whatever you get to do with someone else, I get to do too."
For one second — exactly one — something flickered behind his eyes. Then he laughed and brushed it off, because he was Grant, and Grant never read the fine print.
"Sure. Yeah. Totally fair."
May you like
He clinked his glass against mine. He thought he'd just won something.
He had no idea he'd handed me the matches.
