Boom! Mic drop!
Annabelle rolls her eyes. “Technically it’s not legal, but ...”
“Hey!” I’m personally affronted by her truth. “Don’t go raining on my parade in front of your ex-boyfriend. That’s bad marriage etiquette.”
Tim’s jaw drops again. “You guys seriously got married?”
Annabelle shrugs one shoulder. “It was more of a spontaneous vow exchange, officiated by someone named Pastor Dan, officially the other bride’s cousin.”
The other bride. I snicker.Ahh, the memories ...
“Real classy, Annabelle,” Tim deadpans as if disgusted.
I nod. “Thank you.”
Annabelle smothers a laugh before fixing Tim with a look. “I think we’re done here.”
“But I—”
“Shesaidwe’re done,” I repeat with authority, stepping in to make my presence a wall between them. I am husband. I amnot Tim.
“I just don’t think it’s fair that—”
“Oh my God, dude, she broke up with you,” I say slowly—like I’m explaining gravity to a toddler. “You don’t get to do the whole grand gesture thing after you’ve already blown your shot.”
And probably your load.
Tim wants to argue—mouth opening again, fingers twitching around the poor, neglected coffee in his weak hand—but then he clocks the way I’m standing.
Solid.
Immovable.
Blocking his view of her like it’s my damn job.
Because it is.
“You don’t evenknowher,” he tries again, more desperate this time because clearly, Timmy doesn’t like losing.
I shrug. “No, but I’m married to her. So.”
I smile.Goddamn, this is satisfying ...
Tim stares at me like he’s trying to summon the confidence of a man twice his size.
“Annabelle,” he pleads pathetically. “We were good together. There was a time you said I made you feel safe.”
“She said you made her feel bored,” I toss back to twist the knife.
Annabelle coughs beside me—possibly a laugh—but doesn’t correct me.
Tim’s face reddens all the way to his hairline. “You’re just, what, some reboundjockwith a hero complex?”
“Totally.” I laugh. “Technically a married rebound jock with a hero complex.” I hold up my ring finger.
He lets out an exasperated noise and turns to her one last time. “You’re seriously choosinghim?”
She doesn’t say anything for several moments. Just regards me as if looking for that same support my friends and teammates rely on—that one that’s steady and calm.
