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CHAPTER TWO
IVY
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My stomach plummetedto the floor as my mouth went dry. “Wi ... wife?” My gaze flicked to the sparkling diamond on her finger and then up to Jimmy. “You have a wife? You said you were divorced!”
While he stood stumbling for an answer, I started replaying all our conversations in my mind. He had told me he was divorced, hadn’t he? Yes. Definitely. There were no photos of her in his office, and when I’d first arrived, the gossip around the water cooler had all been about Jimmy’s impending divorce. I made a career out of assessing risk, and after thinking back and analyzing all the information I had, I was certain that there were no flags that Jimmy was married.
No. He couldn’t be married. We’d even talked about his divorce at length one night. His cold, bitter wife and his sadness that they hadn’t made it. He’d made me think he was such a good man for fighting to save a marriage even to a woman he no longer loved. An honorable man. He’d made me feel so special that after more than a decade of marriage, I was the first woman he’d felt anything for since his divorce.
Or not ... since it seemed he wasn’t divorced at all.
Son of a bitch.
“Oh, he has a wife,” she answered quickly. “But not for long.”
“Arlene, please. This isn’t what it seems. She’s just a coworker,” he begged.
My eyes narrowed as I imagined picking up my margarita glass and slamming it against his head... but I would need that alcohol to drink after what I’d just learned.
Arlene whipped her phone around, and on the screen was a picture of Jimmy and me on the beach yesterday, our lips locked together in a passionate kiss.
“And is this not what it seems, Jimmy?”
“How—how did—”
“How did I get proof that you’re a lying, cheating asshole?” She arched a dark eyebrow. “Remember Candy and Al? We met them at that conference in Atlanta a few years back. Well, she and I kept in touch, and she’s down here at the conference with Al ... The conference you told me spouses weren’t allowed to attend this year.” Her lips pursed together tighter as her eyebrow rose even higher. “So, imagine my surprise to find out Candy’s down here when yesterday she sent me this photo of a man she was quite certain wasmyhusband kissing another woman. She hoped it wasn’t you, but when I confirmed you were indeed at the conference in Paradise Isles, there was no doubt you’re the asshole in this picture. I still hoped that maybe there was some mistake, so I hopped on a plane this morning just to come down here to be certain. I followed your phone GPS, and here we are. And heresheis. Certainly, there is no mistake. You are a lying, cheating dickhead, Jimmy!”
“Please, Arlene. I made a mistake. Just one little mistake.”
“Mistake?” I blurted, my eyes bulging wide. “One little mistake? You’ve been making amistakewith me for months, Jimmy! To hell if I’m going to sit here and watch you lie about it to yourwife!”I spun to look at her. “Arlene, I am so,sosorry about this. I truly had no idea. He told me he was divorced. I wouldneverdo this to another woman.”
Her piercing gaze softened as she gave me a slight nod. “I appreciate that. Weweredivorcing and had filed six months ago, but two months ago, we reconciled. We’ve been back together ever since. But I think it’s safe to say our divorce is back on.” Her gaze moved back to Jimmy as it narrowed.
Two months ago. That meant that he was getting a divorce when I’d met him, but after we started dating, he’d gone back to his wife. For two months, I’d been dating a married man. My stomach turned as I struggled to keep my margaritas from coming back up. That explained why he always wanted to come to my place, why he never spent the night, always citing that he had to get up early for a workout before going to the office. The tiny little lies all started snapping together like pieces of a puzzle until the full, horrifying picture flashed before my eyes. I nearly slapped my forehead for being so stupid I hadn’t pieced them together sooner.
Visions of our house with the white picket fence and the two and a half kids fluttered out of my mind. It wasn’t true love that had me waving goodbye to the life I’d planned, it was just that he could have fit in the job description perfectly. Played the part of the doting husband in the life I’d always thought I’d live. Handsome, successful, respected. Grade A husband material. Well, at least he could have been until I found out he alreadywasa husband.
“Arlene, please.” Jimmy reached for her, but she stepped out of his reach.
“Don’t. Not another word, Jimmy. I came, I saw, and now I’m leaving. Alone. We’re done. You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”
Arlene spun on her high heel and stormed across the bar. Jimmy raced after her, his loud pleas catching the attention of everyone in the area until they disappeared from sight. I sat frozen on my barstool trying to process the information.
Jimmy was married.Married!And now I was single.
Again.
In a matter of minutes, I went from feeling like the luckiest girl in the world in my perfect new life to a complete and utter idiot.
“I heard what happened,” the bartender said from behind me. “This one’s on the house. Let me know if you need anything. Super sorry that just happened to you.”
My gaze remained fixated on the door Jimmy and Arlene had disappeared through, but finally, I managed to blink several times and break myself out of the trance.
“Uh, thanks,” I managed as I spun back around to see the sympathetic stare of the bartender. “I really need this.”
I wrapped my hand around the new margarita and lifted it to my lips. After one very long swig, I set it down and picked up my phone. I pressed my sister’s contact and prayed that she’d answer. I needed her now.
