A Perfect Affair

A milk carton fell on the superstore’s floor tiling, having slipped from one of two trembling palms. Johnny’s stricken eyes had read an e-mail from the talent producer. He had been accepted to this year’s season of Sing Us—he was going to be on television.

Fidgeting at the center of the aisle, he picked up the carton and put it back, looked at the other items he was holding and put those back. Johnny ran to his car and just drove empty-handed, thoughts accelerating faster than his Kia.

“Wait till Danielle hears about this! I wonder what she’ll think… She’s never met anyone famous before!” he pondered, ravaging every past doubter in his head.

With the elevator still jammed, the stairs still separated him from the fifth floor. So he ran upward, calves recalling the weekly high-intensity training at the CrossFit club.

As he pushed the shielded apartment door, he heard music coming from his custom-made sound system set in the living room. It was just the setting for his news reveal.

“Danielle! Danielle?” he called, walking toward the sound, “I know you’re in there! What playlist is this?”

Nearing the living room arch, he noticed the back of a man’s dark-haired head resting against his sofa.

“You didn’t tell me we were having guests tonight! Is that you, Theo?” he continued mumbling while the music played.

The head turned around, and it was not Theo but someone unfamiliar. Behind that head, Danielle’s face and naked body started to appear, in motion.

“Danielle?!” Johnny stood and trembled.

“Ah! Mm… Johnn… I…” she stuttered, huffing.

“What… How could you do this?! Why? Whe…”

“Johnny, no! I can explain! It’s…”

“No explanation needed. Get the fuck out! Both of you! Now!”

“Johnny, please! I just… It was perfect!”