My mother offers her former daughter-in-law a tight smile. “You’ve always been part of our family, Alice. You are welcome any time.”
The thing is, Aliceisn’tpart of our family, not anymore. She gave up on them the same day she gave up on me.
I blow out a breath, but it doesn’t do shit for the anger spreading through my chest. “I would’ve appreciated a heads-up.”
And then what? Would I have told Loren the whole truth? I really don’t know. I definitely wouldn’t have come here today, that’s for damn sure.
Mom’s eyes soften. “You never told me you were dating someone.”
“Can you blame me?” Who in their right mind would want to be subjected to this shit?
“Elliott…” My father’s tone holds a warning.
This is bullshit.
I never should have let Loren leave without me. Now she has my truck, and I’m stuck here until someone decides to leave.
You know what? No.
I’m not stuck. I’ll walk home if I have to. Whatever it takes to put distance between me and these traitors who are supposed to havemyback. To takemyside.
Instead, they’ve been colluding withher.
I’m done
So fucking done.
I leave the three of them without another word, searching for August among the sea of faces swimming in front of me. When I catch a glimpse of him near the grill, that’s where I go. He sees me coming and meets me in the middle of the lawn.
“Did you know?”
His chin jerks back as if I just decked him. If he had anything to do with this, I might.
“I know I’m an asshole most of the time, but if I’d known your ex-wife was going to show up to our family reunion, I would’ve one hundred percent told you. That’s fucked up.”
He may be an asshole, but at least he is an honest one.
Unlike me.
I hope Loren can find it in her heart to forgive me, even though I don’t deserve it.
I’m no better than Josh. Yeah, I didn’t cheat on her, but I sure as hell lied by omission. I wouldn’t blame her for wanting nothing to do with me anymore.
Shit. I’ve gotta get home to make things right before it’s too late. She’s probably packing up her things right now.
“I need you to take me home.”
“Why can’t you take yourself?”
“She took my truck.”
August sets down his plate of potato salad and drags out his keys. “No problem, man. But my Jeep’s blocked in, so it’ll take me a few minutes to get it out.”
Of course it is. The only thing that could make this worse is if?—
“Elliott, can we go somewhere to talk?”
That. That’s what could make this worse. Apparently, my ex-wife didn’t get the hint when I walked away. “I have nothing to say to you.”
