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Then it all clicked into place. And bile inched up her throat.
Her mind recalled that day from three years ago. The fight between Joe and Paul, the vile names Joe had spewed at her both at the bar and when she’d cornered him privately later. She’d never forgotten the anger and loathing she’d seen on his face. It had been the turning point of her and Joe’s friendship.
After that day, whenever they’d seen each other, there was always an underlying hostility that she didn’t understand. Yes, she knew her anger was reactionary to him. But she’d never understood the reasoning for his. For why he’d turned on her in the first place.
Over the last couple years, and on more than one occasion, she’d tried to get Joe to explain himself. Because for better or worse, she knew there had to be a reason—people didn’t go from best friends to that kind of hate overnight without a reason. However, each time she tried to talk with him, it was like a steel curtain would fall. So she’d stopped asking.
He’d never apologized. Not once. Hell, this was the first time he’d ever spoken about that day.
So she’d pushed the confusion and hurt away and had fought back the only way she knew how—by giving as good as she got. For every snarky, asshole remark Joe threw her way, she was twice as bitchy back.
Joe’s revelation that Paul had been married shocked her. Repulsed her, even. But looking back, it made the quirks of her relationship with Paul click into place.
In the six months they’d been together, he’d always visited her on the island. Whenever she had offered to go to Seattle to meet him, he’d always declined, usually citing the need to get away from the city and spend quiet time on Hudson. When she’d asked to meet his friends, there’d always been an excuse about schedules.
It had all been crap. Nothing but smoke and mirrors. Because holy shit... she’d been the other woman.
She was a goddamn idiot. How could she have been so blind?
A wave of nausea washed over her. After three long years of confusion, she finally had an explanation for the implosion of her friendship with Joe. Even though it was the very last thing she’d expected.
Joe truly thought she was a cheating whore.
Roxie’s nose tingled, and she fought to swallow past the lump in her throat. His lack of faith in her hurt more than she cared to admit. But she deserved it.
Joe could hate her all he wanted. Because right now, she kind of hated herself.
* * *
For the second time that day, Joe watched all the blood drain from Roxie’s face.
Doubt tugged at the back of his mind, but he pushed it away. There wasno wayshe hadn’t known.
He recalled the moment on the ferry when he’d spotted Paul. He’d never met the guy before, but he’d recognized him from pictures. Paul had been leaning against the railing on the upper viewing deck, taking in the fresh air and sunshine. A pretty blond woman holding a small infant had stood beside him.
Joe had never liked any of Rox’s boyfriends, but he’d begrudgingly approached the man to introduce himself. He’d been absolutely floored when the woman had joined in, saying she was Paul’s wife. She’d shown off their two-month-old daughter and their golden retriever with pride. When he’d pulled Paul aside, the man had said that Roxie already knew.
The admission had socked him in the gut. His disappointment in Roxie had been debilitating. Her decision to enter a relationship with a married man had felt like a personal betrayal. After all, she’d been a front-row witness to his family’s destruction. She’d seen how much damage a cheating spouse could wreak.
Rage had festered inside him that day, contaminating his every thought. Then he’d walked into Monty’s Tavern and seen her leaning into Paul for a kiss... and he’d lost it.
He still didn’t regret sucker punching Paul. A guy who readily admitted to cheating on his pregnant wife was a pussy who deserved a smackdown. But what he was beginning to regret? How he’d treated Roxie. When all the vicious accusations and curses he’d spewed at her echoed in his mind, he wanted to vomit.
At the time, he’d truly believed she deserved punishment, too. But looking at her now, with her skin ashen and eyes troubled... Had he been wrong?
The mere thought had his stomach turning. If she hadn’t known about Paul...
No. She had to have known. Shehadto.
Because if she hadn’t, thenhewas the fucking dumbass. For blindly believing the word of a stranger. Over his lifelong best friend...
“I didn’t know,” Roxie whispered, confirming his fears. A single tear trailed down her cheek.
Fuck!
Joe clenched his fists as self-hatred consumed him. He was the biggest fucking idiot in existence.
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. What the hell was he supposed to say?
