I placed the plate on the table next to the unmanned grill and got in Tricia’s face.
“A separation isn’t the same as a divorce. Whatever you two had was nothing special, since you’re in my face right now, trying to size me up instead of over there talking to him. I bet he won’t even give you the time of day anymore.”
I wanted to say more but feared that if I did, the conversation would take a complete left and would get real ugly quickly.
But Tricia wasn’t done. She snorted.
“Hm. The only reason he’s bringing you around now is because he’s looking to get out of that transfer to Germany at the end of the year. He’s angling for the instructor pilot position, and a ready-made family looks good to the higher ranks.”
I sucked in a breath, trying to piece together everything she just spat at me. Ace hadn’t mentioned a transfer out of the country at the end of the year. Nor did he tell me anything about wanting a new job.
Not like I expected him to, though.
It stung that this woman knew more about my husband than I did. I didn’t have a right or any actual claim over him. But could it be true? Was he using our marriage as a tool to get a promotion?
He mentioned something about getting what he wanted out of the next six months.
With a considerable amount of restraint, I stepped back and moved around Tricia to find my son. I wasn’t about to let this woman see my anger.
It was a fight to suppress the heat running through my veins. When I spotted Aiden, I waved him over at the same time I picked up my steps to get to him.
“Come on, sweetie. We’re leaving.” I grabbed him by the arm and began pulling him in the direction of the parking lot.
“Why’re we leaving so soon?” he asked, but I didn’t bother to stop to answer his question.
“Shit,” I cursed under my breath when I remembered that Ace was the one who had driven us to the park. I stopped short next to his truck.
“What are you doing?”
I spun around to face Ace. His expression was placid as usual whenever he looked at me.
“We’re leaving,” I said firmly. “Give me your keys. You can find a ride back with one of your teammates or something.”
He folded his arms across the chest. “You’re not leaving.” His tone brokered no argument. “Aiden, why don’t you go play with the other kids while I talk to your Mama.”
Aiden recognized the directive in Ace’s comment because he took off running in the direction of another group of kids.
“What is this all about?” Ace leveled me with a look.
“This is about your little whore girlfriend getting in my face.” My tone was just as sharp as his. How dare he bring me to an event where he knew she would more than likely be there?
“You’ve met Tricia.” His tone was deadpan, almost bored.
“At least you didn’t deny it.”
“What do I have to lie about?” he retorted. “We dated, and now we don’t.”
“Whatever, Ace.” I rolled my eyes. “And now you’re forcing me into this pretend marriage so that you can look good to your squadron for a new job.”
I almost demanded to know why he hadn’t told me he was supposed to transfer out of the country in a few months.
But that wasn’t my business. If all went according to plan, in a few short months, I’d have the divorce papers signed, and we would no longer be one another’s problem, anyway.
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “It’s just about the same as asking for a divorce after sixteen years so you can inherit money.”
I grilled him with a glare. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He shrugged. “Neither do you, sweetie. We’re staying until the end of the picnic. Get used to it.”
