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My head was a mess, and my emotions were worse. By the time I reached the coffee shop, a dull ache was starting at the base of my skull.
I pulled open the door, quickly scanning the space for Natalie and Carter. My heart stuttered when I saw them seated toward the back, to-go cups of coffee on the table between them. It looked cozy.
Before I could think of what I was going to say or do, Natalie’s gaze lifted to meet mine. They widened in surprise as her lips parted.
Without thinking, I erased the distance between us, hovering over the table.
“What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” Natalie checked her phone and then put it down when she didn’t see any messages.
My heart was galloping in my chest, and there was a roaring in my ears. “You about done here?”
Carter tapped his fingers on the tabletop. “We were having a private conversation.”
“I think you need to wrap it up.” I made a motion with my finger and wondered briefly why I couldn’t rein in my inner asshole.
“I don’t have to listen to you. What are you, her new boyfriend?” As Carter leaned back in his chair, a Cheshire grin took over his face as he looked from me to Natalie. “Are you fucking the help?”
“What asshole sayshelp?” I asked as I braced my hands on the table to get closer to Carter.
Carter chuckled. “I thought you were reckless, moving here and opening a business when you have no experience, but now you’re sleeping with the guy who’s renovating it? That’s rich. You have no room to complain about what I did.”
“You cheated on me for months while we were married. We’re nothing alike.” Natalie stood and walked out.
I had the brief realization that she was pissed at both of us, but it didn’t stop me from leaning in close to Carter and issuing a threat. “Stay away from her and Delaney. They’re mine now.”
I growled that last part, and Carter didn’t even have the decency to flinch. I slapped the table and stood to find Natalie.
I needed to talk to her, to find out what happened, and to apologize for walking in here like a caveman. I finally found her sitting on a bench, her head in her hands. “Are you okay? Did he say something?”
She looked up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “We were just talking about things when you showed up like some—” She waved a hand in the air.
“Like a caveman?”
“What were you thinking?”
My jaw tightened. “That I didn’t want that asshole around you. That I couldn’t stand the thought of you going back to him.”
Natalie sighed and stood. “You should have trusted me. I have no intention of getting back with him.”
The muscles in my body slowly loosened as I processed what she’d said. “Seriously?”
“He cheated on me, and he wasn’t that great of a husband. I thanked him for doing what I couldn’t. He moved on, and now I have this amazing new life. I love it here. I love the life I’m building.”
Did she love me? Should I tell her I loved her? She was already not liking how I was handling her ex in town, so it probably wasn’t the best timing. She’d think I was saying it because he was here, not because it was how I felt.
“What does he want? Why is he here?” I asked, lowering myself to the bench.
“He said he just wanted to make sure I was okay.”
“Now?” I couldn’t believe he showed up after all this time, pretending to care about Natalie after everything he did.
Natalie shrugged, but her eyes seemed watery. “He seemed genuine.”
“He break up with that girl he left you for?”
“He said they’re taking a break. She regretted leaving her kids. She’s in a tense custody battle with her ex, and she blames Carter for it.”
“So he runs back to you when he breaks up with his girlfriend?”
