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We finally got back to a cordial place, and now this. We’re right back to where we started. Only this time, I’m not fucking her. No way, no how.
“Don’t be silly, Jensen. We’ve always had chemistry in the bedroom.”
I won’t deny that because it wouldn’t be true. She’s right. We’ve always clicked between the sheets, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to jump back between them.
“Ashley, please. I’m going home, alone. Our marriage is over.”
“Maybe so, but we can still have a little fun on the side, can’t we?”
“No,” I answer right away, needing to get the hell out of here, and fast. “Have a good night. I’ll lock the front door when I leave,” I tell her, turning away.
“So, that’s just it? You’re gonna tease me all night, act like we’re one big happy family, and then just leave?”
Sighing, I keep my back to her as I say, “Yes, Ashley, I’m leaving. I want to get along with you for the sake of Max. You’re his mother and I want to continue making sure he’s number one to both of us, but this idea of us getting back together, even for just a night, isn’t happening. Besides, we’ve moved on. You even went out on a date with Riley,”
She doesn’t say anything, but I know what’s coming. I move my body out of the doorway before it gets smacked with whatever is readily available on her nightstand. I just barely get out of the way before the remote slams into the wall, popping the lid off and shooting batteries down the hall. “Bastard! I hate you! Riley meant nothing! I was using him to get a rise out of you!” she screams, no doubt going to wake up Max.
I keep moving though, needing to get out of the house as quickly as possible. Making sure the front door is secure behind me, I head to my truck. My long legs get me there quickly and my shaking fingers start it even quicker. I’m driving down the road before I can even process what the fuck just happened.
“Jeezus,” I mumble, heading in the direction of my home. Only, when I get there, I don’t pull in the driveway.
I keep going.
Visiting my mom is out of the question, even though I could really use her advice right now. She’s probably already in bed, since she gets up at four and starts her day at the bed and breakfast. I could fire off a quick text message to Jonas and see if he’s still out, but I really don’t want to head to the bar. That’s the last thing I need, actually. Samuel will bore me to death, explaining the ins and outs of prepaying your funeral before I even sit on the couch, and Marissa is probably with Rhenn, doing something I don’t want to think about my little sister doing.
So that’s why I find myself stopping in front of my older sister, Harper’s, place. Harper’s always had a pretty good head on her shoulders, and she’s kickass with advice. My boots are heavy on her front steps as I raise my hand to knock on the door. Snuggles starts to bark, her stubby little tail wagging as soon as she sees me on the opposite side of the screen door.
“Hey, man,” Latham says, unlocking the door and holding it open. “Come on in.”
“Sorry to just drop by unannounced. I was in the area,” I tell him vaguely.
Harper’s boyfriend watches me, his eyes assessing and reading. There’s no doubt he already know there’s something more than just me being in the neighborhood. “Your sister’s in the shower. Wanna come out back with me and have a beer?” he offers, nodding toward the door in the kitchen.
“Sure,” I answer, shoving my hands into my pockets and following. Snuggles is already there, clearly having heard the words out back.
Latham grabs two bottles of beer from the fridge and heads out to the deck. I take a seat on one of the chairs, anxiously opening the brew he hands me. It’s a beautiful night, the stars high in the sky and a full moon just over the trees. I can’t help but wonder when the last time I just sat around and looked at the stars was. A month ago? Hell, six months ago? It’s hard to tell when you’re up to your eyeballs in paperwork and spend every spare minute of time you have raising a son.
“So? You gonna tell me what has you all tied up?”
I glance over at the man shacking up with my older sister. Latham Douglas owns the hardware store beside my sister’s lingerie shop, and honestly, he’s a pretty good dude. I hope one day he’ll become an official member of the family, though that’s probably a long ways off. All I know is that my sister is over-the-top happy now that they’re together, and for that, I’m grateful.
“Ashley.”
He relaxes back in his chair and takes a pull from his beer. “Ahh, the ex. I should have known.” Latham kicks his feet out straight, and as soon as Snuggles finishes sniffing all over the backyard, she lies beside his outstretched feet.
“She called me tonight because she couldn’t find Max’s baseball. I had personally packed it in his bag, but I ran home and tore up the house looking for it. When I didn’t find it, I went over to her place because I knew it had to be there.”
“Let me guess, it was?”
“Right where I had put it.”
“And?”
“She told Max I was staying for dinner. He got all excited, so it wasn’t like I could just leave and risk disappointing him,” I shrug, now knowing that’s exactly what I should have done.
“I’m guess you stayed and it was the wrong decision?”
“Definitely. To her, it meant we were one big happy family again. I found her lying on her bed in lingerie,” I confide, taking a much bigger drink of my beer.
