Like Many Couples During And After COVID, We Transitioned To Remote Work. We Left The City Where Her

Like many couples during and after COVID, we transitioned to remote work. We left the city where her corporate office is for a quieter town, where we could work from home and enjoy a slower pace of life.

My wife’s job has always required frequent travel. Spending days away while I stay home, managing the house and kids. Over time, her work trips became more than just business. They became a thrilling game. One where she will text me early in the morning admitting, “I cheated on you again.” Not really cheating, of course. I encourage it. The thought of her with other men arouses me. Then she will share all the details while I get myself off in bed.

Now, like many companies, business travel is ramping up again and employees are expected to work some in person. Her company just won a major account in the city near us—his city. Her boyfriend lives there. It’s only a couple of hours away, close enough for a day trip, but far enough that staying overnight is the norm.

She’s already spent nights at his downtown apartment. Most of the time just one, sometimes two, so they can have more time together.

The other day, I overheard their Zoom call. His voice was eager. “Does this mean you’ll be coming here for work?”

I could hear the excitement in both of them. She giggled. “Well, I’m not sure how often, but yes, that’s the plan.”

It stirred something deep inside me, that mix of thrill and cuckold angst. It is different from her other business trips where she sleeps with other men. Those are casual affairs, typically one offs. This is a man she has told she loves him.

So, I couldn’t help myself. The words tumbled out before I could stop them “So you’ll be traveling and staying there for work? Where will you stay?”

Another giggle. “I mean, they’ll get me a hotel, but I’ll probably just tell them I don’t need one and stay with him.”

A business trip. A home away from home. Maybe a travel week will start to bleed into a weekend. Funny how the mind wanders and how the little head below gets excited while the head with the brain worries.