“That I’ve lost my head over sex with a younger woman.”
“Wow.”
My shoulders sag. Lavinia might be proving that she was never a good friend to Sterling. But now she’s another person in his life that he’s lost. And I hate that he’s going through this.
“She really feels that way?” I ask, stroking his wrist.
He presses a kiss to my lips and sighs as he moves back and sinks into the couch.
“She does.”
“I thought she seemed off when she gave me a ride. But I never thought she was so bitter about you being happy.”
“Neither did I. She actually looked like she enjoyed telling me about the fact Elaina fucked Neil in our old apartment the first time they met up.”
“Sterling,” I soothe.
“I already knew, Hallie. Every sordid detail was in those letters between them both. Elaina and I hadn’t…”
“You can say it.” I place my hand on his thigh and squeeze reassuringly.
“We hadn’t had sex in months. I’m just glad she wasn’t screwing us both at the same time. I still got tested the moment I found the letters, and I’ve always used condoms since?—”
“I know. You don’t need to explain.”
He pushes a hand around his jaw. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
His eyes meet mine and my heart goes out to him. He looks shook. Like the past has all been stirred up, and it’s burning him all over again.
“We’ve just got engaged. We should be celebrating and enjoying every minute. Not dealing with stuff like this.”
My eyes fall to the manila envelope on the floor that I dropped when he came in.
“Would it make you feel better if I added some shitty stuff in as well? So you’re not the only one bringing it home?”
His expression morphs into concern instantly. “What is it? Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you the other night, did I?”
I take his hands in mine. “No! You didn’t hurt me. I’ve told you that already. We’re definitely doing that again.” I smile at him, but it falters as I slide my hands free and pick up the envelope, handing it to him.
“I mean, this.”
He takes the envelope, pulling the card out that I’ve spent the past half an hour staring at.
“What the hell is this?” His brows lower, and he grits his teeth.
“I hoped maybe, just an innocent gesture?” I shrug.
“This isn’t a damn gesture, Hallie. It’s a great big, ‘screw you’.”
He throws the ‘Congratulations on your engagement’ card down on the couch and scrubs a hand around his jaw with a muttered curse.
“Rory was sending a message when he sent that.” He points at the card, glaring up from the cushion like a taunt.
“So what if he was? He doesn’t matter anymore. He can’t hurt us. My clients know about us. My parents know about Vegas. He has nothing.” I curl my fingers beneath Sterling’s jaw and turn his head, so his eyes meet mine. “He has nothing,” I repeat. “He’s just doing what Rory does best—being a prick.”
“If he won’t leave you alone, I’m going to have to make him. You understand that, don’t you?”
