Rayne's POV

Every day was easier than the next when it came to this collaboration with Andre. He and I were getting along pretty well and he was slowly starting to respect Michael and I's marriage.

We still had a pretty long way to go as far as finishing our painting, I sigh standing over the long canvas on the floor. "Andre, this was a really great idea and I'm pretty sure some crazy billionaire is gonna buy this and make us a lot of money." I smile.

He stands next to me, "I'm glad you decided to do this with me." He says, placing a hand on his hip.

"It's getting a little late let's wrap up here and meet back tomorrow?" I say packing away my supplies.

"Ok..." he starts, "can I treat you to dinner?"

"What?"

"Dinner.. just as a friendly gesture. You know, for collaborating with me." He smirks.

I stammer, "Andre, I don't know..."

"I feel like we're past all that.. come on.. let me take you to dinner." He enthuses, taking his jumper off revealing his clean clothing underneath.

I clear my throat, checking the time, the kids have definitely already eaten and it's more than possible Michael is asleep. Andre and I were past the awkward stage of him flirting with me, so I guess it'd be ok. "Alright.." I submit.

"I promise to have you home before midnight" he laughs.

I snicker back, "Ima grown woman.."

"A married one, with kids.. you should be back by 12." He adds, opening my truck door for me.

***

"So, with the money we'll be making in this artistic crossover.. what'll you do with your share?" Andre asks as we sat at the table.

"I'm gonna keep a little of it, but.. I wanna start a foundation for abused kids and this money will definitely help to start that." I smile. "I haven't told Michael yet, but I know he'd be happy to hear it. I've got all the paperwork in my bag, I can't wait to show him when he wakes up."

Andre grins, shaking his head. "Rayne you have such a beautiful smile to go with that beautiful soul. That's really sweet of you."

"Thank you." I answer shyly. "I know about abused kids all too well, so it's something I'm really passionate about."

"That's beautiful.." Andre says, his eyes locking with mine. "You know what, I'm gonna take some of my money and donate to that cause.. I can't imagine what those kids go through."

"A lot... they go through a lot." I sigh, Andre grabs my hand squeezing it tightly. I give him a polite smile.

My phone breaks my focus to a text message from Michael on screen. "Where are you? Are you ok?"

"Is that hubby?" Andre chuckles, "I guess it's time for you to go." He stands, wrapping his arm around me for a hug, his hand resting on my lower back, and his cologne rubbing against my shirt.

"Yeah. He's worried. Thanks for dinner Andre. I'll see you tomorrow." I smile sweetly, heading toward the door.

"I'll bring coffee." He yells back with a wink.

Michael's POV

I kept looking at my phone, waiting for some kind of buzz or alert from Rayne, simply telling me she was okay. Maybe she worked late with Andre, is what I tried to tell myself. But my brain was thinking of Rayne in the worst way, knowing that Andre was attracted to my wife, and my wife was slightly attracted to him. It scared me to think Andre could have his hands on her right now.

Finally, I hear the keys jingle in the door before it opens quietly. "Where were you?" I say not waiting for her to come inside.

"I was with Andre...." she explains.

"Doing what? You're never this late.. I was worried." I pace.

"I know... he treated me to dinner after we stopped painting." She continued, "I thought you'd be sleeping."

"Dinner?" I question, my thoughts raced. "You went on a date??"

"What?" Rayne says raising her eyebrow, "no Mike.. I was treated to di-"

"Rayne... you went on a date!" My voice escalated.

"Michael why are you yelling?" Rayne says in a hushed tone. "What is your problem?"

"I was worried! Now I find out you were on a date.. are you kidding me.." I say angrily.

"What are you worried for? I wasn't on a date I went to dinner.."

"With a man who likes you!"

"With a friend, Michael!" Rayne responds, "I mean am I not allowed to have male friends?"

"Not him... I told you Ray... I can't trust him around you... and I'm starting not to trust you either." I fold my arms. "And you smell weird, like cologne.. how close was he to you that I can smell him?" I raise an eyebrow, some dinner..

She scoffs, tossing her hands up, "I HUGGED HIM. God you are unbelievable!" She says. At this point we were both just screaming at each other, clearly not worried about if we woke our kids.

"So now you don't trust me? Last time I checked, I wasn't the one who actually cheated." She folds her arms.

"That's not fair." I mutter.

"No.. this isn't fair. Michael, I understand that Andre is interested in me, and I know that intimidates you. But i'd have hoped you'd have better sense to know I'd NEVER cheat on you.. I'm going to bed." She says walking upstairs.

I follow her into the room, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what? About the dinner? It wasn't important... because that's all it was.." she rolls her eyes hopping into the shower. "Just be honest Michael. You didn't want me to do this in the first place... you should've just said something in the beginning."

I sit on the bed and sulk, "well I wanna support you.. but I don't want you to do this anymore."

"It's too late..." she says drying her hair. "Now I'm doing it for me. If you look in my art bag, you'll see my plans for this money. I was gonna show you once you were awake but seeing as how you wanted a screaming match..." she says turning on her side to lay down.

I grab her bag reading through the thick packet of paperwork about a foundation for kids. "Rayne... this is beautiful." I flip through more pages.

"Yeah that was my good news for tonight. And Andre said he'd donate some of his money to help out.. as a friend." Rayne says once more before shutting her eyes.

I sigh. Maybe I was over reacting.

***

The next morning, I woke up and Rayne had already left for the studio. The kids were still sleeping, giving me time to clean myself up and prepare for the day. Being retired is not all it's cracked up to be after a while, you have absolutely nothing to do. I've been working for so long, it feels weird to just stand still.

I made breakfast for the kids and I, the smell waking Camille up. "Good morning dad." She mutters, her eyes still halfway shut.

I raise my eyebrow, "dad? What happened to daddy?" I chuckle.

"I don't know.... it just feels better saying dad." She shrugs. My girl is growing up on me so fast, I sigh

My little 3 year old son followed behind her, "hi daddy." He says, making me feel a little bit better.

"Dad, were you and Mommy yelling at each other yesterday?" Camille asks, cutting into her waffle.

"Did we wake you? I'm sorry Millie'" I sit at the table with them.

She nods, "I don't like it when you guys yell at each other.."

"We don't like to fight either Camille, but you have nothing to worry about, I promise."

***

I was honestly feeling bad about Rayne and I's fight the night before, so I wanted to do something nice for her for tonight. She walked in and muttered a small "hey" to me before dropping her bags at the door and peeking into the kids rooms to peck their sleeping faces.

"How was it today?" I ask, helping her remove her shoes.

She shrugs, "same as every other day, just normal babe." She lets out a relieved sigh while I massage her feet. "That feels really good Mike" she smiles.

I nod, "I don't like when we argue with each other and I know that you wouldn't intentionally hurt me. I am gonna keep working on my trust and keep hoping that you'll forgive me for cheating on you. We both Love each other.. right?" I smirk.

She nods with a grin, "I do love you Mike, so much."

"Good to know." I smile back. "Ok lay on your stomach, so I can rub your back"

She giggles, "you are perfect, Jackson, do you know that?" She moans out as I continued caressing her back.

"I've been told. But I know that it's a lot of physical strain on your back so I hope this helps..."

"It helps so much Dre you have no idea.." she says.

I stop and frown my face, "did you just call me
Dre'?"

"What?" Rayne says lifting her head, her eyes widened. "No...no!" She stammers. "I-I said.... babe why would I call you Dre...?" She says clearing her throat.

I stood up, "you called me Dre, Rayne.." Rayne sits up, her eyes still wide, her face blank with guilt.

"Mike.... I-"

"When did it happen Rayne? When did you CHEAT ON ME!" I yell loudly.

Rayne eyes filled with tears, she looked down and sniffled quietly, solidifying my own thoughts.