AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
One week later
“Bex,are you ever going to talk about it?” Shay asked softly while we stretched in the backyard. The sun was bright, the sky a fresh blue, and the birds were even chirping. It was a glorious day, but for some reason my best friend decided now was the best time to finally broach the subject of my breakup.
I crinkled my features. “What’s there to say?”
Moving into downward dog, I focused on my breathing and stretching while I heard my best friend let out a heavy sigh. Ignoring her, I focused on my movements, emptying my mind of how painful it really was that Ryan had completely disappeared from my life after saying the most hurtful words he could have possibly said.
“It’s not fair,” Shay said as she breathed out.
She’d been saying that a lot over the last week. I merely grunted in response because no, it wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that he’d lied about the Shelly thing to the public, allowing my name to be dragged through the mud, or that he’d put my own children’s feelings on the back burner, all so his career would be safe.
“I’m angry, Shay. I’m more angry than sad, which is a good thing. Sadness is a breaking feeling, and I don’t want to break,” I quietly confessed while I sat cross-legged on my yoga mat, letting the sunlight pour over me. “If I break, he wins. I don’t want him or Logan to win. Fuck them both, and may they both rot in hell.” If I’d had a cup, I’d have offered it up in a cheers to my best friend.
Shay gave me a sad smile in return. “Okay, I’ll be on your hate train…let’s get you out of this house and on the prowl again.”
Normally, I’d have told her no, but my kids were gone and my heart was wounded, so I jumped up and agreed. I had one week until my kids were back with me, and I had every intention of purging the pain of Ryan’s dismissal from my life.
* * *
“What the hell, Bexley?”Logan seethed, darting a look around the coffee shop we’d agreed to meet up at. I’d known this reaction from him would be coming the second we met face to face. He must have seen my little spotlight moment at the local bar when the rodeo was in town recently.
A cowboy offered to buy me a few drinks, and I’d taken him up on the offer, including the heavy make-out session afterward. He left the next day and I would hopefully never see him again. It was fun…meaningless, but fun. I was starting to see the allure Ryan had found in random hook-ups. I wouldn’t have sex with just anyone, but the idea of using someone simply to feel something only to move on the next day was slightly brilliant. At least that was what my broken heart thought.
“Did you even consider that your children might have seen that little clip?” Logan continued to scold me. He hadn’t even said hello.
“Well, did they?” I quirked my brow in question.
Red marred Logan’s firm jaw and the slight scruff he had growing there. His eyes roved over my face like he was searching for some sign that I was alive inside.
“No, thankfully it aired after they were in bed, but that doesn’t mean they won’t find out.”
“Not really a concern of mine right now.” I spoke the lie easily…though of course that was a concern. I’d had no idea someone was watching me at the bar and snapping pictures. Shay hadn’t either, and once we found out, we were infuriated…but they’d already been sold, and there was nothing we could do without getting a lawyer. I didn’t have that kind of money.
“Is that why you’ve been such a bitch lately?” Logan sneered as he gazed down at me. “You’ve been so snappy an—”
“And that’s all you’re going to say about that, you prick. Don’t call me a bitch and then think I’ll stand here and listen to what you have to say.” I started away from him, but his gentle hand on my shoulder stopped me.
“I’m sorry…I was just surprised. Our conversations changed, and you just weren’t there anymore, then that…” He shook his head. “I was jealous.”
I knew that must have been a bucket of ice water on him. I ignored his texts unless they related to our children. I answered his calls, but any time he tried to flirt or anything more, I cut him off and steered the conversation back to the kids. I’d never been so forceful with him regarding our parental agreement or relationship. Guilt had always loomed in the background when I talked to Logan, withering my backbone and keeping me from dealing with him harshly. I’d paid for that misstep by losing Ryan to Logan’s lies.
A mistake I wouldn’t be making again.
“Are my children ready?” I dodged his comment and looked around the space. Tables littered the small shop, a few filled with people laughing and conversing, others occupied by people hunched over open laptops.
Logan’s blue eyes assessed me before he answered. “Yeah, they’re over there playing one of those arcade games.” He lifted his thumb over his left shoulder, indicating a small alcove toward the bathrooms.
Ready to sidestep him, I moved to the left, but his hand darted out toward my hip.
“Bex, just hold on a sec. I thought you and I could talk over a cup of coffee.” Those crystal blue eyes bored into me with the same intensity from when we were together and he wanted me to marry him. Old Bexley would have caved and agreed to sit with him, out of guilt.
“You lost the chance to sit and talk with me over coffee the second you sabotaged my relationship by telling Ryan that bullshit about us kissing.” I pushed past him, nearly seething from how hurt I still was that Logan had said what he had. I was so angry with him and myself I could barely contain the words begging to fly from my tongue. I wanted to wound Logan, hurt him like I was hurting.
“Bex, please…just listen.” His hand jutted out, grasping my elbow until I was spinning around, facing him.
“No, Logan, you listen.” I pointed at his chest, and a few of our fellow patrons darted their gaze toward us. Logan noticed and took a few steps back.
