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A prominent magazine I’d kill to write for has chosen Clayton’s as one of the finest restaurants in Iowa for the past four years. I came here with Kent for all of our celebration dinners—our birthdays, anniversaries, and promotions. The restaurant is an hour out of Blue Beech, and we’re staying in a hotel in the city for the night. It’s nice, not worrying about nosy people gawking at you.
“Yes, such romantic memories.” Gage chuckles before kissing Lauren.
Lauren glances at me while we make our way to the hostess stand. “When Gage came home, he followed me here. He also brought a date in a desperate attempt to make me jealous.”
Gage ruffles his hand through Lauren’s hair, resulting in a glare from her. “Why don’t you elaborate on the story, babe? Tell her how you deceived me into thinking you were having an affair with a married man. Come to find out, you were here, celebrating your friend’s birthday with his husband.”
“Wow,” I say while laughing.
I envy Lauren and Gage’s relationship. They were high school sweethearts, and even though they broke up and he moved away, they reconciled. Now, she’s pregnant, and they’re engaged.
Lauren is wearing a red dress, her baby bump on display, and her black heels don’t bring her close to Gage’s stature. Her dark hair is down in curls, and Gage’s is messy as he protectively settles his strong arm around her.
I’m dressed in a simple black dress with black heels. My blonde hair is straightened, and the only makeup I’m wearing is a bright red lip. Kyle is sporting a white button-down shirt with a hint of color on the collar and cuffs and dark jeans. Like his uniforms, the shirt perfectly fits him and showcases his broad shoulders and muscles.
In high school, I had no friends. All my dinner companions tonight were in the cool crowd. I never spoke to Gage. He spent most of his time with Kyle, and anyone who hung out with Kyle was an enemy. Lauren was always nice to me and once even picked me as her Chemistry partner when she realized I was always picked last.
Kyle wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s grab a drink from the bar.”
I stop him and nudge my head toward Lauren.
She waves away my concern. “Don’t worry about me. I take notes of all the delicious-looking martinis and will come back when there isn’t a little one in my stomach. I’m totally cool with you guys drinking without me.”
Kyle takes my hand and leads me to a small open section at the bar.
“The bartender is not even paying attention to us,” Lauren whines.
“You’re pregnant and at the bar,” Gage says.
Lauren glares and then kisses him. “Go get the bartender’s attention, Kyle.”
“Be right back,” Kyle tells us, giving my side a squeeze. “He’s giving the other side all his attention.”
I lean forward and rest my elbows on the bar while observing him move around the bar. I bite into my lip when I catch women staring at him as if they want him as their dessert. There’s a bridal party assembled around the bar, attempting to capture his attention, but he ignores them. I beam with pride. He’s overlooking them because of me. He wants me.
“Wow, you’re here withhim?”
I tense and immediately know who said that.
“With fucking Kyle Lane?” Kent snarls.
I turn to scowl at him and notice his wedding ring. There’s no bitterness. Kent stands in front of me, and I feel nothing toward him, not hurt or regret.
He sets his drink on the bar and nudges closer by bumping the person next to me. “I need not go into details about why being around him is a vile fucking idea.”
“And you cheating on me with another chick was a vile fucking idea, but you did. Now, you’remarriedto the woman you swore you weren’t touching while I’m sharing a meal with the man you warned me away from. Oh, how the motherfucking world turns,” I snap with no hesitation.
He snatches his drink up and chugs it before slamming it down. “Don’t come running to me when he screws you over.”
My eyes narrow his way as we form strong eye contact. “Trust me; don’t concern yourself with that. Go back to your wife. Maybe you can be a not-so-shitty partner to her.”
I tense up when I see Kyle approach us. He doesn’t look threatened my Kent’s presence. Kyle slaps Kent on the back, bumps his shoulder when stepping around him, and places our drinks on the bar before dragging me into his side.
A hard expression spreads across Kent’s face.
“Good to see you, man,” Kyle addresses him. “I hope you’re doing well. Thank you for cheating on Chloe to give me the opportunity to make her happy—veryhappy.”
“Fuck you,” Kent scowls.
