I Checked What He Never Thought I Would While He Pushed His Phone Across the Island...

Next morning I called Westside with Derek beside me. Speaker on. Daylight filled kitchen same as day one. Bottle half-filled, towel folded, notebook open.

Woman answered: "Westside Community Fitness."

"For Lisa?" I asked.

Lisa came on. Voice young, flat.

Derek said, "Lisa, Maya here. Need confirm paper you gave me."

Lisa said, "Meal plan printout. $29. No charge. You asked two weeks ago."

"Calls?" I asked. "11 minutes, 4 minutes."

Lisa said, "Intake questions. Goals, allergies. Standard."

I asked, "Why paper folded?"

"Printed on back of flyer. Folded to fit pocket," she said.

I breathed audible. Derek hands flat on counter.

"Did he flirt?" I asked.

"No," Lisa said. "Asked price three times. Seemed nervous."

Silence hung. I ended call with thanks.

Derek looked at me. Mouth slightly open.

"That's calls," he said. "Not second life."

I tapped receipt. $10 cash 8:02 AM. Between calls.

"Why sit in lot?" I asked.

"Anxiety," he said. "Sat, called, then decided to go in. Some mornings drove loop to calm."

I checked notebook timeline: 7:12-9:03 gap, calls 7:48 and 8:15, gas 8:02, gym door 8:17 photo. Aligned now with west route.

We drove route together that afternoon. My car, his directions. Measured miles. House to Westside Fuel & Go 11.8 miles. Loop to gym and back 24.6 miles plus station loop 2.9. Total 27.5. Odometer 28 close enough with parking moves.

At Westside I saw lot empty like staff said before. Industrial Parkway wide, trucks passed. Not north loop he claimed earlier. Lie geography now corrected.

Staff at register recognized Derek. "Yesterday?" she asked. Derek shook head.

We returned home. Jenna came over. Brought dinner. Sat at island.

Jenna said, "Pattern fits stupid shame, not affair. Still betrayal of money talk."

I said, "Know."

Jenna pointed to notebook. "Keep doc until trust returns."

Derek said, "Will."

We ate standing. No one moved bottle. Island still anchor.

Later Derek showed bank app. No hidden charges. Cash withdrawals three times $20, $20, $10. Matched gas and protein bar.

I asked, "Why not tell me you wanted cheaper plan?"

He said, "Thought you'd say we can't afford any plan."

I said, "We can't. But we decide together."