Ear Hustling

The first thing I heard was the whisper.

Not the whole sentence. Not the context. Just two words, hushed and trembling, drifting through the thin crack between the bathroom door and the hallway.

“I cheated.”

I froze mid step, one sock half on, my coffee mug cooling in my hand. The house suddenly felt too quiet, like it was holding its breath with me.

I didn’t mean to listen. I swear I didn’t. I only meant to grab my jacket from the chair by the door. But those words sharp and final hit something deep in my chest and lodged there.

I cheated.

My heart started racing before my brain caught up.

She had just gotten engaged. Yesterday. Ten years together. High school sweethearts, college years, first apartment, first dog, first real everything. And Simon God, Simon had been part of my life since before I could spell my own name. Our moms joked that we learned to walk together. He was my older brother’s best friend, my protector, my constant.

And I was the one who introduced them.

I stood there, staring at the bathroom door like it might open and explain itself.

A pause. The murmur of a voice on the other end of the call. Then my friend spoke again, softer this time, almost ashamed.

“I know. I know I shouldn’t have, but it just… happened.”

My stomach dropped.

I backed away, quietly, like I was afraid the house would hear me thinking. My head filled in the gaps without asking permission. Late nights. Lingering looks. A mistake that wasn’t really a mistake. Ten years erased by one bad decision.

I didn’t confront her.

I didn’t wait for her to come out.

I grabbed my keys and left.

My phone buzzed before I even reached the car.

*Hey, are you okay?*

*You just disappeared.*

I didn’t answer.

I told myself I needed air. Space. Time to think. But what I really needed was to do something with the panic crawling up my throat.

The engine hummed as I pulled away, hands shaking on the steering wheel. My loyalty twisted painfully inside me, split down the middle. She was my best friend. But Simon was… Simon.

He deserved to know.

Didn’t he?

My phone buzzed again.

*Call me ASAP.*

*Please.*

I turned my location off.

The guilt of that alone made my chest ache.

By the time I pulled up to Simon’s house, my heart was pounding so hard I thought I might pass out right there in the driveway. I sat in the car for a full minute, forehead resting against the steering wheel, trying to rehearse what I would say.

*I overheard something.*

*I don’t know the full story.*

*You need to talk to her.*

None of it sounded right.

I spotted him on the porch as I stepped out of the car. He was standing with his neighbor, deep in conversation, hands moving animatedly. He looked happy. Relaxed. Engaged ring still so new it seemed to catch the light with every movement.

My chest tightened.

He noticed me and smiled, lifting a hand in greeting. I forced one back, my face stiff, and walked toward the house.

“I’m just going to head inside,” I said lightly, not wanting to interrupt.

“Yeah, yeah make yourself at home,” he replied, distracted, still talking.

I slipped inside and gently closed the door behind me.

Not all the way.

Just enough of a crack to let the sound through.

“I cheated.”

The words floated in again, unmistakable this time.

My breath caught.

No. No, no, no.

My knees buckled before I could stop them. The room tilted, walls bending inward as if they were closing around me. My heart slammed against my ribs, too fast, too loud, like it was trying to escape.

I slid down the wall and hit the floor.

The door swung open.

“Hey.. hey! What’s going on?” Simon’s voice was suddenly right there, panicked, solid.

I couldn’t breathe.

He knelt in front of me, hands hovering like he wasn’t sure where to touch. “Are you okay? Did you fall?”

“I.. I’m fine,” I lied, the word trembling on my tongue. “Just dizzy.”

“When did you eat last?”

I hesitated.

“I didn’t. Today.”

Concern etched itself across his face immediately. “That’s not fine. Come on.” He helped me to my feet, steady and warm, like he’d always been. “Let’s get you some food.”

I nodded, letting him guide me to the kitchen, the guilt now a physical weight pressing on my chest.

He handed me a glass of water. I drank it too fast and nearly choked.

“Slow down,” he said gently, rubbing my back. “You scared me.”

I wanted to scream.

Instead, I swallowed and forced a smile.

“I’m okay,” I repeated.

He watched me for a moment longer, then nodded. “I’ll make something. Sit.”

As he turned away, my phone buzzed again on the counter.

*Please call me.*

*I didn’t mean it like that.*

I stared at the screen, my heart sinking.

*Didn’t mean what like that?* my mind demanded.

Simon set a plate in front of me toast, eggs, something simple. I picked at it, appetite gone.

“You know,” he said casually, leaning against the counter, “she’s been really hard on herself lately.”

My pulse spiked. “She has?”

“Yeah. Ever since the engagement, actually. Says she feels like she has to be perfect now. Wedding pressure, I guess.”

I nodded stiffly, afraid to speak.

“She called me earlier,” he continued. “Sounded upset.”

My fork froze midair.

“She did?”

“Yeah. She said” He paused, smiling faintly, almost amused. “She said she cheated.”

The room went silent.

On her diet.

The words landed all at once, like a wave crashing over me. Diet. Calories. Sugar. Bread.

Not him.

Never him.

Heat rushed to my face relief so intense it hurt, followed immediately by shame so sharp I thought I might cry.

“She… had a cookie,” he added, laughing softly. “Or cake. Something dramatic. She thought she ruined everything.”

I stared down at my plate, my hands shaking now for an entirely different reason.

“Oh,” I said.

He chuckled. “I told her it’s not cheating if it’s survival.”

My phone buzzed again.

*I was talking about food.*

*Please tell me you didn’t think*

Tears burned behind my eyes.

“I should call her,” I said quickly, standing too fast.

Simon nodded. “Yeah. She’s probably freaking out.”

I stepped into the hallway, answering the call before it could ring twice.

“Hey,” I said.

“Oh my God,” she breathed. “Are you okay? You just ran out and”

“I’m okay,” I interrupted, voice thick. “I’m so sorry. I overheard you. I didn’t know what you meant.”

There was a pause.

“You thought I cheated on Simon?” she whispered.

“I did,” I admitted. “And I panicked.”

She let out a shaky laugh that turned into a groan. “All this over a muffin.”

I laughed too, a sound halfway to a sob.

“I almost ruined your life over a muffin,” I said.

“You almost gave me a heart attack,” she replied. “I thought you hated me.”

“I never could,” I said softly.

When I hung up, Simon was watching me from the kitchen doorway, eyebrow raised.

“All good?” he asked.

“All good,” I said, finally meaning it.

He smiled, relieved, and handed me another piece of toast.

“Eat,” he said. “No cheating.”

I laughed, the tension finally breaking, and took a bite.