Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I blinked and inched forward in line. Tony kept a respectful distance as he moved behind me. I braced myself for a rogue memory. Three years ago, he would have put his arms around me or a hand on my shoulder or my hip. He was a touchy-feely person. He’d never been able to fall asleep without some body part on mine. And now we were strangers. Huh.
“Yeah. So…we got a good offer?”
“We did,” he enthused, lifting a binder he’d tucked under his arm. “Want to grab something to drink and go over this?”
Insisting on buying our iced coffees had nothing to do with the goodness of my heart. Standing in a slow-moving line and making small talk with Tony sounded like hell. I didn’t want to be rash and sign the documents willy-nilly, but in my perfect world, this would be over in fifteen minutes or less.
Thirty minutes later, we were still discussing terms of escrow, tenting for termites, and other yawn-inducing items on the potential buyer’s wish list.
“Personally, I think they should take care of the termite tenting, but I’m fine with everything else. Where do I sign?”
Tony flipped through the paperwork and handed over a pen. “It’s a thirty-day escrow, so they should disperse funds soon after. You can contact the agent and give him your banking info. His name is Mike…good guy. He’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.”
“I doubt I’ll want to know anything besides where’s the money?”
“Trust me, I’ll be asking that same question.” He chuckled, scratching his jaw. Again, the ring reflected in the sun like some kind of beacon that was almost impossible to ignore. “I’m still paying off the wedding.”
“Wedding,” I repeated.
“Yeah. I, uh…I got married recently.”
Okay. All right.
I could practically hear my therapist ask, “How does that make you feel?”
Quite honestly…nothing.
Absolutely, beautifully nothing.
No pang of longing, no regrets, no insta-replay in my mind of the many times we’d planned a future together.
Just…nothing.
“Congratulations, Tony,” I said sincerely.
“Thank you. It all happened kind of fast.”
“Oh? How’d you meet?”
“My boss introduced us. Xavier is Jose’s cousin,” he replied. “Do you remember Jose?”
“I do.” And geez, that was almost too perfect.
Tony cleared his throat nervously. “Hey, I…maybe I should have told you sooner. I didn’t know how to do that without hurting you and I thought—”
“No, no. I’m fine,” I assured him.
I was very fine. In fact, I felt oddly…free. We really had just grown apart. I couldn’t change myself to make him happy. I couldn’t be the “asset” he needed in a husband. I was far too demanding for that. I wanted a partner…an equal. I’d never truly had that with Tony.
Vindication was a powerful drug. I felt almost high on an intoxicating dose of self-worth. God, it was good.
“Are you, um…seeing anyone?” he asked after a moment.
“I am.” I smiled. It was meant to be a quick carefree gesture, but it morphed into an ear-to-ear grin and a blush. Damn it, Pierce.
Tony’s mouth curled at the corners. “Good. I wish you well, Lo.”
“Thanks. You too.”
We stood at the same time and shuffled to the entrance, tossing our to-go cups into the recycle bin before stepping outside. I popped my sunglasses on my nose and held out my hand. Tony slid his palm against mine and pulled me in for an impromptu hug that lasted a beat longer than any average good-bye hug. But this was it.
A final farewell and a chapter closed.
Damn, it felt good.
“What the ever-livin’ fuck? Back up, boy. Tony’s married? To a man?”
I handed Bran the stack of mail I’d picked up on my way in. “Yep. Xavier. He showed me their wedding photo. They got hitched in Cancun…on Valentine’s Day.”
Bran widened his eyes and set his hand over his mouth. “No way.”
“Way.” I bent to rub Benson’s belly.
“Are you…okay?”
“Are you kidding?” I countered. “It was therapeutic. The timing couldn’t have been better, and it was very amicable. I wish him well.”
Bran gave me a suspicious once-over. “You’re definitely seeing someone.”
“What makes you think that?” I bluffed with an unconvincing snort.
“Because I know you. He hurt you, and I hated seeing you in pain. Time heals wounds and all, but that was a deep scar and you’re smiling now. So…who is he?”
Shit. I couldn’t tell him.
Or could I? Bran could keep a secret.
He was a good friend. He’d ask a ton of questions I probably couldn’t answer, but he’d have my back. He was trustworthy and after he got over the movie-star twist, he’d be happy I was happy. And then he’d probably worry about me cracking when it fell apart…next week or next month or…whenever.
“Uh…”
Bran cocked his head curiously. “Is it new?”
“Yes.”
“Got it. Well, enjoy him. And when you’re ready, I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Okay.” I sipped my drink and tried to think of a quick topic change. “How’s the baby? Have I missed anything adorable lately?”