She kept her voice even. “I repeat: Why areyouhere?”
“Let’s go somewhere quieter to talk.” Rob side-eyed the growing crowd of people either discreetly or openly staring at the three of them. “I know how you value your privacy.”
Something about that confident, knowing statement sparked her temper.
“Sure. You careso muchabout my privacy and my preferences. Which is why, after I blocked your number, you chose to track me down in a high school gym during a reunion.” Molly shook her head, face heating in anger. “That’s borderline stalker behavior, Rob. I’m not going anywhere with you. Especially since I haven’t heard from my lawyer, which means you and I have nothing important to discuss.”
He actually laughed.Laughed.
“I’m notstalkingyou, Molly. I was simply in the area becauseof a conference in DC this weekend, and Alexis said the workers must finally be done with our...” He paused. “Withyourhouse, because all their tools and supplies are gone. So I figured now was the perfect time to chat about the next steps.”
Too incensed to pay much attention, Molly let Lise nudge her toward the nearest wall, so they weren’t blocking traffic out of the gym as their former classmates either called it quits for the night or gathered to watch the show.
“So you’re not stalking me, but you’re here in Harlot’s Bay without my invitation, and your wife has driven past my house to check on the status of my renovations?” Multiple times, it sounded like. Aggravated and incredulous, she threw her hands in the air. “There are nonext steps, Rob. It’s none of your concern whether my renovations are done or not. My homeis not for sale. And even if it were—”
“I’d make a better offer than before. I heard what you said during our last conversation, and I want to respect your position. You’re smart to hold out for more.” Rob smiled at her. “Alexis and I talked about it, and we’re willing to go as high as...”
He named a genuinely generous price, and it only infuriated her more. Why the hell was he acting like she’d balked at his specific offer, rather than the entire idea of selling her home? Why, after all this time, wasn’t the wordnogetting through to him?
He didn’trespect her position. He didn’t respecther. Not even a little.
What she was witnessing outside her high school gymnasium was evidently his main takeaway from their relationship: total confidence that he could bend her to his will if he refused to listen, wore her down, and convinced her that his position was the only just and rational one.
For far too long, his confidence had been well founded. During their marriage, she’d striven to makereasonabledecisions, according to his definition of the term. She’d spent nearly two decades questioning her feelings, ignoring her instincts, because she wanted to be fair—to him and in general.
That period of her life was over now. From this point on, she intended to care less about what was rational and more about being true to herself. He needed to understand that.
Maybe once he did, he’d give up and leave her the fuck alone, at long last.
“Let me put this as clearly as possible.” She articulated each word crisply, in distinct syllables, like a linguist reading the dictionary aloud. “My home is not for sale. Even if it were, I wouldnotsell it to you.”
It was the first time she’d admitted as much, even to herself, because she’d known her disinclination was pure pettiness. She no longer minded being petty, though, so her ex-husband was about to finally discover one of life’s great truths.
Finding out was much less fun than fucking around.
“Wow. Molly.” His slow headshake radiated disapproval. “I never thought you’d take advantage of our relationship to squeeze evenmoremoney out of me, but I suppose I could go...” His lips pursed as he thought for a moment. “I could go ten percent above the price I just quoted you.”
Was he... was hehagglingwith her?
Fucking hell, was he evenlisteningto her? Tohimself?
“Holy crap, dude.” Lise glowered at him. “Do you have a head injury? Too much ear wax? A curse on your bloodline that doesn’t allow you to hear anything you find inconvenient? Becausesomethingis clearly stopping you from getting the point.”
Any remaining semblance of civility shredded by his condescension and obstinate refusal to understand her position, Molly planted her feet on the tile floor and her fists on her hips, and she made absolutely freaking sure heheard herthis time, with no confusion possible.
“You could offer me ten times the house’s value. Athousandtimes. It wouldn’t matter, because after everything you’ve said and done to me, I. Will.Never. Sell. It. To. You. I’d rather burn it to the damn ground than let you have it.” She bared her teeth at him, in what might technically be considered a smile. “And don’t bother looking shocked and disappointed that I’d refuse a tidy profit. We both know that between the two of us, you’re the one who cares about his money more than his heart.”
His face creased in a wince when she raised her voice, and he aimed a speaking glance at their surroundings. He’d always hated loud confrontations, especially in public. Considered themcommon. And sure enough—
“Pipe down, you two,” he hissed, leaning closer. “There’s no need to make this some kind of juvenile confrontation. Even though you’re...” He shook his head again, as if in helpless disbelief. “You’re refusing to sell me your home out of childishspite? Truly?”
“You’ve gotsomenerve, jackass, to come in here and pretend Molly’s the one at fault.” In direct contradiction to Rob’s order, Lise’s voice had risen in volume. “She only told me the bare minimum about her divorce, and youalreadysounded like a total dick. And now that I’ve met you, it’s clear that she didn’t give me even the faintest, most infinitesimalidea—”
For all that Lise was shouting, Molly could barely hear anything over the insistent buzz in her ears and the rapid thud of her heartbeat in her skull.
She’d married this man.Marriedhim.
Let him shove cakein her faceandstayed with him.
