Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: So you finally get to find out Selene's secret...
Credit Card Secrets
The next two days spun by in a whirlwind of dinners, Hitchcock references, longing looks and fake smiles. They hit a few rough patches – namely when Daniel publicly referred to Wilson as Selene's boyfriend – but the lack of sleep in Room 209 by far made up for it. Before long, their impulsive weekend affair found itself dwindling to a close. Neither wanted to go back to daily life – without each other. However, they both knew the whole thing was too hot not to cool down.
Isn't that a song? Selene wondered absently as they waved goodbye to her grandparents and boarded the train back to New Jersey. Besides, if they stayed together much longer, Wilson was bound to find out the one thing she didn't want him to ever know.
One final night of passionate goodbyes was gone far too quickly. Selene donned a purple dress that morning. Perhaps if she had glanced at Wilson's outrageously red tie she would have seen how badly they would clash. Instead, she hung on his arm, desperately wishing things could be different. They had lunch at a tiny cafe and were overjoyed to find Selene's flight had been delayed until the next day. Their joy was doomed though. Within minutes, everything would come crashing down.
It all began when they approached the counter to pay for lunch. He dug into his pockets, only to find that he'd left his wallet in his suitcase. She reassured him and pulled a credit card from her purse. The cashier rang up the bill and charged the account. As he handed her back her card, he smiled cheerfully and uttered those fateful words, "Have a nice day, Mrs. House!"
It took a moment for the words to register. Her breath caught in her throat and she glanced quickly to the name on the card. His jaw fell open as he stared blankly at her. "Mrs- House? You're his wife? He's married?"
Pressing a hand to her mouth she violently shook her head. "No! No! It- It was years ago!" As they started to draw strange looks and unwanted attention he pulled her outside by the elbow.
"What was years ago?" he questioned, slowly and deliberately.
She sighed. "We were married years ago. We were young, we were in college, we were stupid. I told you I was married to a jerk!"
"Yeah, well, I didn't really think that jerk would turn out to be my best friend!"
"Wilson! Please! We're divorced. We haven't even spoken in fifteen years! It's not like you're getting his hand-me-downs or something!" Their voices grew in volume until they were shouting at each other, hands flying in every direction.
"Then why the hell is his name still registered on your credit card, huh? Can you tell me that?"
"Yes, actually, I can. Just before we got divorced, I got a job that included a company credit card and so, rather than have to continually explain why my name was different from that on the card, I hyphenated my name. By the time the divorce rolled around, it was just easier to keep the hyphen legal but go by Rogers. Good enough for you?" she put in snidely.
"Why didn't you tell me, Selene?! Didn't you think I deserved to know I was having a spontaneous affair with my best friend's ex-wife?!"
"Well maybe if you had spent more time looking at my chart and less time looking at my chest, you would have known yourself!"
He grit his teeth. "Fine. You know what, fine. You'll just have to find somewhere else to stay tonight."
"Greg, please. I know it's awkward, but I don't have anywhere else to go," Selene sat in her ex-husband's office, begging for a couch to sleep on.
"What's wrong with Cuddy's couch?" he whined.
"She just had the house painted and you know I'm allergic to fresh paint. Please House?"
He glared at her but nodded. "Fine."
"For God's sake, just get the door, Selene!" House shouted from the bedroom when a third, loud knock resounded on the front door. She groaned and rolled off the couch to the door. Yanking it open, she mumbled a barely intelligible, slightly rude greeting.
Wilson cleared his throat. "Hello Miss Rogers. Is House in?"
Her eyes widened and she glanced down at herself, clad in one of House's t-shirts. "This isn't what it looks like, James. Seriously." She stared at him for a moment before changing her mind. "I don't need to justify myself to you." She shook her head as she turned to gather her things, leaving the door wide open. She glanced up a moment later to find he was gone. When House finally emerged from the bedroom, his ex-wife was gone and the door to his apartment was swinging in the wind.
Ice cream bars for reviewers!
