“None of my business?” Lewis’ voice just went up and octave. “She’s mywife.”
Keeton laughs but it’s humorless. “Ex-wife. From what I hear, you weren’t much of a husband in the first place.”
“That’s none of your––“
Keeton doesn’t let him finish, “You treated her like shit, dude. A woman like Lainie deserves to be treated with respect and worshipped, like a queen.”
Lewis returns with his own humorless laugh. “You’re not good enough for her. You’re not good enough to shine her shoes. She belongs withme.”
Okay, there’s so many things wrong with that statement. First, what!? I can’t believe Lewis would say something like that. All I ever heard was what a useless waste of space I was from him. Second, shine my shoes? Do people still do that?
“I know I’m not good enough for her. But that isn’t going to stop me. The second she stepped into my office, Iknew,” Keeton says the last word in a sexy, growly way.
“Knew what? That she was easy prey for a guy like you? She’s not the brightest bulb in the lamp, you know.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? She’s smart as hell. You were married to her for ten years and you think she’s dumb?”
“Look. She may be book-smart but when it comes to real life, to knowing about men like you, she’s as naïve as they come. Hell, she actually believes you’ve got feelings for her,” he snorts in disgust.
“I do. I’m in love with her and—”
He’s in love with me? What!?
Scoffing, Lewis snaps, “In love with her? How long have you known her? A week?” he stops talking for a second but then says, “Wait! Were you fucking her while we were married?”
“No, asshole. I just met her, but it only took one look.”
Footsteps sound like they’re getting closer to the door. I hesitate, not knowing if I should hide. I choose to stop and listen.
“You honestly think Lainie would ever cheat? Even with the arrangement you two had?” There’s a pause but Keeton adds, “I heardyoucheated though.”
Lewis chooses to ignore that argument, apparently. “You and I both know you’re not what she needs.”
“If you think she belongs with you, why’d you divorce her?Andleave her nothing?”
“I did it because…” Lewis falters.
“Yeah, why did you do it, Lewis?” I whisper to myself.
“I did it because…”
There’s silence in the room. I’m holding my breath waiting to hear the answer.
“Yeah? Why?”
“Because. I wanted her to need me. She was pulling away. She got a goddamn college degree without my knowledge or approval. She started investingmymoney withoutmypermission.”
“Permission? Approval? This isn’t the fifties, asshole. You think she had to ask permission to improve her own life? You’re a dick, man. The woman is smart as shit. Sounds like she outsmarted you, anyway.”
“Ha!” he makes a scoffing noise. “She’ll do the same to you––take your money and use it to her own ends and then she’ll leave you to whore around with someone new.”
What!?
“Listen fucker, she’s not a whore and she’s not the kind of girl that uses people. She’s the kind of girl who does a guy a favor for ten fucking years and what does that fucker do? He tracks her like she’s a felon. Like a dog.”
“I’m not tracking her, I…”
“I found the app on her phone,” Keeton deadpans.
