(infedelity)

it had been four months since patrick and brendon got married and three years that they had been together before their marriage.

patrick was in no way bored of his husband, he had absolutely no reason to do what he had other than he got caught up in the moment. he loved brendon with everything he had and so much more, so when he woke up in this stranger's bed, he could not have felt any worse.

"fuck," patrick whispers, staring at the sleeping body twisted in the sheets next to him- tanned arms wrapped around his pale torso. "pete?" that was his name, right? pete? patrick had no clue.

he shakes the slumbering male, hoping to wake him. or at least enough to be told where he was. when pete did not budge one bit, patrick sighs, removing the strong arms from around him. he found his belongings and rushed out of the apartment, looking to google for directions back to his and brendon's.

patrick sighs in relief to find the apartment was empty, a note from brendon on the counter.

patrick, I've gone off to work and I'll see you when I get back. have a good day.

maybe it was his guilty conscience, but the note felt passive aggressive- as though brendon just knew what he had done last night.

"I really need to tell him." patrick mumbled, mostly to himself, but the dog watched him curiously, tilting his head in confusion. "right?" he glanced up at the dog that just stood to get out of the way of his pacing human. "god, he's going to be so pissed! how could I do that?! how could I cheat on him!" at this point he was just yelling at himself, pointing out his mistakes. "I'm so fucking stupid." he mumbled, leaning over the counter, lightly hitting his forehead against the smooth surface.
~~~

"you -what-?" brendon stared at his husband a shocked, teary eyed look on his face.

"I, uhm, I cheated on you..." patrick mumbled, staring down at his lap. "I know there are no excuses, bren, but I was just caught up in the moment! this dude kissed me and suddenly I was in his bed, and... I'm so sorry, brendon."

patrick felt a horrendous stinging as his head whipped to the side. his eyes closed tight as a way to stop his tears or at least temporarily cease them. okay, he deserved that. he held his hand to the growing red spot to hopefully dull the pain, but of course, it did nothing.

"you bastard!" brendon shouts. "why the -fuck- would you do that to me?! we've been together for over three fucking years! if you were losing interest in me, you could have said something! you could have broke off the engagement, we would never gotten married!"

"bren, no!" patrick cried out, hoping to somehow stop brendon from thinking that way. "brendon, you have to believe me, I didn't do it because I don't love you. I didn't do it because I have no interest in you, not because of any of that!" patrick stared through blurry vision at his husband, tears streaming down his face.

"what other reason would you have for cheating?"

"there is none." patrick whispered. "I had no reason."

"you said he kissed you and then you were in his bed." brendon muttered, recalling the story told. "you didn't even try to stop him. you weren't thinking about me."

"I'm so sorry." patrick whispered shamefully, knowing what was next to come.

"I don't want to hear it, patrick." brendon growled.

patrick nods, waiting in the uncomfortable silence brendon used to collect his thoughts.

"I want you out." brendon muttered finally after a long moment. "I want you out of the apartment by tomorrow, and I want a divorce."

"brendon, please-"

"if you really loved me, if you really wanted this to work out- and let's face it, we both knew something like this would happen! just surprised it wasn't sooner- but if you wanted me, you would have stopped him. and you wouldn't have fucked him."

patrick nods, staring at his lap, knowing that in some way brendon was right in it all. he -hated- it, but brendon was right. if patrick really loved him, he would not have cheated. "I'll pack some things and get the rest of my things tomorrow. while you're at work?"

brendon nods. "yeah, that's fine. when you're done, leave your key on the counter."

"okay," patrick mumbled, standing to pack some clothes for the night, along with a few other essentials.

"bye, bren..." patrick mumbled, reluctantly leaving the apartment.

"goodbye, patrick."

and that was it. that was the end of a marriage and a beautiful friendship before that. all because patrick did not refuse sex with some stranger. because patrick liked the thrill and the danger of this man. it was all a show which he knew, but there was something about that patrick just loved.

and after all of those years with brendon, patrick did not find this break up that hard. even all these months later, it leaves him to wonder if he just forced his feelings for brendon.