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Maybe I do need to resort to drastic measures. Maybe I should let out all this anger on the one target who actually deserves it.
Betrayal cuts deep, and the wound she created hasn’t stopped burning since the day I left home for good.
3
AURORA
Holy shit.
“You didn’t tell me you owned the bar the Titans go to,” I hiss at Beth, closing the door to her office a little harder than I should’ve.
She rolls her eyes, closing her laptop. “I didn’t think about it.”
Right. Of course not.
“Besides, I’m hardly ever out there.”
Beth came out to Denver once her dad couldn’t keep up with the bar anymore. He divorced her mom when Beth was a kid and moved out here. He owned this place for ten years, co-running it with her uncle. Eventually, they turned it over to her. But before that, it was his dad’s. And probably his dad’s dad’s. Who knows how far back the history of this place really goes.
Her master’s degree in architecture went to shit, but we don’t talk about that. We don’t talk about a lot of things, actually. But a year after Beth took over, she managed to convince me to join her.
I drop into the open chair. “It wouldn’t be a problem under normal circumstances, except I just ran into Knox.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh.”
“And that was after watching him play,” I add. “Which was a bit torturous.”
She snickers. “Did he play well for you?”
Not in the slightest. I spin the ring on my finger, contemplating telling Beth the full story. As far as she knows, he signed the divorce papers the first time I asked. That was the last time we talked about Knox. Although, unfortunately, it’s not the last time I’ve thought about him. Usually, I do all I can to divert that line of thinking.
I don’t seek him out, I don’t search his name on the internet. I didn’t even realize he had been traded to the Titans until the announcer called his name at the start of tonight’s game.
“Anyway.” I clear my throat. “A heads-up about this being their hangout spot would’ve been nice.”
She sighs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it. Knox is new to Denver, too, isn’t he? You know I don’t follow hockey. If they don’t come in here with their jerseys on, I wouldn’t recognize them.” She rises. “Come on, we can sneak into the kitchen and have Heath make us something. It’s no use sulking in here all night.”
I consider that. I mean, I was just on my way in after the game when Knox accosted me—I had barely made it ten steps into the bar. And Beth’s explanation makes sense. She’s never been a big hockey fan, only coming along to the games in high school with me when I made her.
My stomach growls. And as much as his anger rattled me in hindsight, I don’t tend to run from a fight. I never have. And the thought of pissing him off by not doing what he says brings me an inexplicable dose of joy.
So I smile and say, “Something like burgers?”
“He can probably whip that up.” She leads the way down the hall and into the kitchen, weaving amongst her employees.
There are a few waitresses collecting dishes from under a warming lamp, more rolling napkins and silverware at a desk in the corner. She catches the attention of one of the guys behind the line, orders food for us, then takes my hand and practically drags me out of the kitchen.
“Elizabeth,” I whisper-yell.
Forget what I said about not running from a fight.
“You can’t be afraid of your ex forever,” she calls over her shoulder, still pulling mercilessly on my wrist.
I’m notafraid. I just don’t want to deal with him. Our encounter outside was enough to remind me of why all our communication has been through lawyers.
The last time I sent the divorce papers—another try to see if he’d finally give up—he sent a handwritten note to my lawyer, who then texted me a photo.
No, thank you. His scratchy handwriting was as familiar as my own, and I hated the way it got to me. My eyes burned. I didn’t cry, though. I haven’t cried since… well, since I was nineteen. Four years seems like a lifetime ago, even if it passed with a snap of my fingers.
