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“She’s my ol’ lady,” I mutter, pushing her into my room and slamming the door.
Ruby laughs sarcastically. “Christ, you really are an arsehole.”
“You came all this way to tell me that?”
“You haven’t told her anything, have you?”
“Why would I? I came here to forget it!” I yell.
“Well, while you’re here ‘forgetting it’,” she says, using her fingers as air quotes, “your brother’s wife is falling apart. We can’t get her out of bed, let alone to look after the kids. She just cries or stares into space.”
“Then call a doctor!”
“They’ll section her, take the kids!” she shouts.
“Maybe that’s for the best,” I growl, and she slaps me hard. It stings, and I hiss as I rub my cheek.
“Cain would be turning in his grave right now if he could see you.”
“He wouldn’t even be in a grave if it wasn’t for me!” I yell back.
“Well, we both agree on that,” she snaps.
RAVEN
“How the hell did his ex get his address?” asks Leia.
As soon as Mac dragged Ruby away, I sought out Anna, who just happened to be with Leia. “I gave it to her,” I admit, and then I fill them in on the text messages. They both stare at me in shock. “I know . . . I fucked up. I instantly regretted it, but it was too late.”
“You knew he didn’t want to speak to her,” says Leia.
“I just thought maybe he was hurting. It sounded like she’d cheated on him.”
“Raven, what the hell were you thinking?” asks Anna, sighing.
“He should have told me the backstory. If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have been so curious and I wouldn’t have read her messages and I wouldn’t have felt sorry for her.”
“Does he know?” asks Leia, and I nod. “Shit. Was he mad?” I nod again. “Let’s hope your plan works and they make friends and live happily ever after.” Somehow, I don’t think that will happen, and by the look on Leia’s face, she doesn’t either.
“Anyway, she said he’s a cheat.”
“Oh my god,” they gasp in unison.
“He always talks like he disagrees with cheating. I don’t get it. I know he was unhappy with Ruby, they were together a long time, but why didn’t he correct me when I said she cheated?”
“No man would admit to that crime,” says Leia.
“But to try and heal me, to make out he’s a good guy when actually he’s done the same thing to his ol’ lady? It doesn’t make sense.”
I stay in the main room for an hour, and Mac makes no appearance, so I eventually decide to go to bed. Mac will find me when he’s ready.
* * *
I wake with a start, sitting up to find Mac’s silhouette looking out my bedroom window. I turn on the lamp, but he keeps his back to me. “What time is it?” I ask, my voice croaky from crying.
“Six a.m.”
“Are you okay? Has Ruby gone?” He shakes his head. “No, you’re not okay, or no, she hasn’t gone?”
