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“When I said you weren’t what I signed up for, I was only telling you half the truth.” Crystal took a breath and then blew out a confession. “I left you because I’d already met Ryan.”
Eli stared at her, stonily silent. His eyes went to her stomach again.
“My husband,” she needlessly clarified.
Crystal had always wanted the house, husband, dog—and baby—but Eli had been contented to live in the warehouse, to serve his country. She wanted a man to build a home with her and he wouldn’t have been able to give her that.
“I should’ve told you the truth, but I worried it would hurt you more knowing I’d met someone new.”
He studied the table, his world fracturing. What he’d believed—that he was too much of a burden, that there was no going back because of his physical changes—was never the truth. Crystal had found someone else—someone to give her the things she wanted.
“Eli. I’m so sorry.”
He looked up to find Crystal’s expression infused with regret.
“It was wrong of me to lie.” Her eyes left his to focus over his shoulder at the same time Eli felt a prickle of awareness at the back of his neck.
“This looks cozy,” a whiskey-laced, female voice announced. He knew that voice. Knew the timber of it when she cried out in pleasure and the sound of her husky laugh whenever he was fortunate enough to draw it from her.
He looked up to find Isa wearing a tight, red dress riding high on her thighs and cut low in the front. “You’re early.”
Isa shot him a black-lashed wink.
“Crystal Billings.” His ex introduced herself, chin up, smile polite. Her married name, evidently.
Eli didn’t miss his ex’s assessing rake down Isa’s body. He stood and wrapped an arm around Isa’s waist. “Crystal and I used to date.”
“Hmm,” Isa said, her smile holding a secret. She knew that part because he’d told her. He liked her knowing, and that was an epiphany in and of itself.
“We met here about a million years ago,” Eli continued. “Now she’s married with a house and a baby on the way.”
Crystal’s eyes flicked from Eli to Isa. “And a dog.”
“Congratulations to you,” Isa said kindly. She turned to Eli. “I’ll let you two wrap up.” Her dark eyes flashed in a way that he knew she was smiling at him from her soul. “I spotted Tag over there.”
“Be over in a sec.”
“Okay.” Isa’s voice was a whisper and because he couldn’t help himself, he lowered his face and softly brushed her mouth with his. Then she was off and he couldn’t help watching her go. She wore that dress like she was doing it a service.
When he refocused on Crystal, her smile was smaller than before. “She’s beautiful.”
“She’s also smart. Driven. Brave.” Crystal fell short in that last category. She hadn’t been brave enough to tell him the truth. He couldn’t decide whether he owed her thanks for that or not.
“I’m glad you said hello.” Crystal gripped her glass of what he’d originally assumed was a vodka tonic but now considered was probably a Sprite with lime.
“Are you happy, Crystal?” he asked.
She tipped her chin, her eyebrows closing over her nose.
“With the house, the husband”—he gestured at her stomach—“the whole nine yards?”
She moved her hand over her belly and shot him a beaming smile with absolutely no doubt hiding behind it. “I really am.”
“Good.” He meant it. She should have what she wanted. What she deserved.
“Are you happy, Eli?” Her gaze snapped from Isa and then back to him.
“I’m getting there.”
