Page 74 of Cursing My Cheating Husband

“No, you’ve done a good job. But this couldn’t go on forever. I need to focus on my future now. And for that, I need this chapter of my life to be over.”

I felt like I was going to die. My thoughts spiraled. No more proximity. No more taking care of her. No more carefully made beds or fresh flowers or hoping that maybe, someday, she might look at me and see something worth keeping.

I wanted to fall to my knees and beg her to reconsider. To try everything, to implore, to make promises, to negotiate. To just absolutely leave it all on the field and try everything I could to change her mind.

But that would be putting myself first again, wouldn’t it?

“I’m sorry you didn’t succeed in winning forgiveness from me. But who knows? As the years pass, maybe it’ll happen. You might wake up in ten or fifteen years and find the curse has lifted, and then you’ll know I’ve finally gotten over it.”

I hated that she still thought the curse was my motivation. Desperation to proclaim my love for her and plead my case continued to burn through me… but I had given up the right to have any say in her life.

The least I could do for Callie now was respect her decision without burdening her with my feelings. She deserved to be free of all that now.

“I understand.” It took great effort, but I kept my voice even. “I’m sorry we can’t continue.”

She regarded me thoughtfully for a moment. It was definitely wishful thinking on my part, but I thought she looked just a little bit sad. “You’re taking this much better than I would have expected.”

I took a deep breath. “I just want you to have a good time this weekend. You deserve it. Please don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

She thought for a moment and eventually opened her mouth to speak. But whatever she was going to say caught in her mouth at the first syllable.

Finally, she gave me her back and turned back to the water. “That’ll be all for now, Maddox.” Her tone was notably harder than it had been.

I nodded thanks and slipped back into the house.

If I allowed myself, I could fall apart right now.

But plunging into despair would have to wait until the weekend was over. I muscled back the devastation threatening to overwhelm me. There would be plenty of time to marinate in that.

The entire rest of my life.

For this weekend, I had to focus on enjoying whatever tiny last scraps of Callie’s presence I was ever going to get.

CHAPTER 31

CALLIE

Ifell back onto the sheets, my chest heaving, my skin flushed and tingling.

Ryder collapsed beside me with a satisfied moan, reaching for his vape pen on the nightstand.

“That was a hell of a send-off,” he said, taking a long pull.

“It really was.” I stretched luxuriously, letting my muscles unwind. The sheets Maddox had brought from home felt divine against my skin. Say what you will about the man, he knew what I liked.

Ryder propped himself up on one elbow, his blond hair falling across his forehead. “I’m gonna miss this.”

“Same.” I meant it. This fling with Ryder had been fun, uncomplicated, and honest throughout. A shame Duke couldn’t make it this weekend to give us one last proper three-way, but of course he had his own Labor Day plans with Christine. Their marriage was open, but Duke’s wife was always his priority, and did I ever appreciate that about him.

That was the thing about Duke and Ryder. They couldn’t offer more than some wild sex now and again, but they never pretended otherwise. No hidden agendas. No secret text threads with other women. Just straightforward communication about what they could and couldn’t give.

What a fucking concept.

“So,” Ryder said, exhaling a cloud of vapor, “you figured out any of the logistics yet? For the move?”

“Not really.” I sighed. “I know I’m going, but I still haven’t worked out a new job situation for myself. I used summer as an excuse to set that aside. My mother has nothing but room, so I’ll stay with her while I’m interviewing and looking for a new place.”

“Well, if you need help moving boxes, you know where to find me.”