Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I didn’t respond. There was no reason to. We were divorced. He had no say in my private life, so I just stood there and stared at him.
“It was still here this morning when I went to get the kids’ breakfast.”
“And?”
“Whose was it?” I just stared at him blankly. “So, are you seeing someone?”
“How is that any of your business?”
“Because you are my wife, and...”
“I am your ex-wife, and who I’m seeing or not seeing is none of your business.”
“I just...”
“What?” I pushed. “Did you think I was going to sit here and pine for you for the rest of my life?” I crossed my arms with a huff. “I hate to break it to you, but that’s never going to happen. I deserve to be happy, too.”
“I want you to be happy. I just... You’re the love of my life, Mags. I don’t know if I can take you being with someone else.”
“The love of your life? You’ve gotta be kidding me!” I could feel my blood pressure rising as I fussed, “You’re with Crissy! You’ve been with her for God knows how long, and you left me, the love of your life, to be with her!”
“I should’ve never done it.” He stepped through the doorway and started over to me as he said, “I had it so good, and I...”
“Just stop. I don’t want to hear it.” There was a time when I would’ve given anything to hear those words from him, but at that moment, it sickened me. “You need to leave.”
“Fine, I’ll go, but I’m not giving up on you, Maggie.” He turned and started out of the room. “You will be mine again. Just wait and see.”
“That’s never going to happen.” He’d already closed the door and was halfway to his truck when I shouted, “Never!”
Tears of frustration welled in my eyes as his words echoed through my head. After everything he’d put me through, hearing ‘You are the love of my life’ was like a cruel twist of the knife. I couldn’t believe he had the nerve to say those things to me.
He’d shattered our marriage with his betrayal, and now, after a year had come and gone, he wanted me back. It was ridiculous. He had his chance, and he threw it away. I was still fuming when Nathan peered into the kitchen and whispered, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, sweetie. I’m fine.” I walked over and gave him a hug. “Your father and I were just having a little chat.”
“I heard.” He looked up at me with worry in his eyes. “I wish he wouldn’t do stuff like that. It’s not right.”
“No, it’s not, but let’s not let it ruin our day.” I turned and started for the fridge as I asked, “What would you guys like for dinner?”
“I don’t know. Whatever is fine.” He cleared his throat before asking, “So, is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“Was there some dude here?”
“It wasn’t just some dude,” I corrected. “His name is Ronin.”
“Is he the one you’ve been textin’?”
“Yeah, we’ve talked a couple of times.” I was treading on new waters and wasn’t sure how much I should and shouldn’t say. “He was the one who helped me when the car broke down.”
“Oh, okay.”
I could only imagine how hard this must’ve been for him. He had been the man of the house for over a year, and the thought of someone new coming into the fold had to be a little daunting. I tried to reassure him by saying, “He’s really nice, honey. I think you will really like him.”
He didn’t respond, which made me nervous, so I added, “He works construction and has a great sense of humor. He’s really tall and reminds me a little of your grandfather.”
Again, no response.
“I’d really like you and Samantha to meet him... I was thinking we could meet up at Dano’s for some pizza and...”
“Meet who?” Samantha asked from the doorway.
“Mom’s new boyfriend.” Nathan let out a breath. “She wants us to go have pizza with him.”
“You have a boyfriend?” Samantha gasped. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well, first, he’s not exactly my boyfriend. He’s just someone I’m seeing.”
“Since when?”
“Not long.”
Sam put her hand on her hip as she sassed, “How long is not long?”
I knew then it was going to be a long night, and a long night it was.
But in the end, they both agreed to meet Ronin and promised to have an open mind. I just hoped they could keep that promise, because my future with Ronin depended on it.
Rooster
“Preacher and Grim are here.” Torch motioned his head towards the door. “And they brought Preacher’s son.”
“Oh, really? Wow. They’re a long way from Little Rock. Something going on?”
“Yeah, the kid’s girlfriend got done over by some rival gang.”
“Ah hell, that’s rough.”
“Yeah, sounded like they did a real number on her.” Torch winced as he added, “Beckett’s the one who found her, and he’s having a hard time of it. Preacher’s hoping that a couple of months here might help get his mind off things.”