DECLAN
When Marcie rushed out of the dining room, I caught the chair she’d been sitting in before it smacked the ground.
“Good job, dipshit.”
“If Linc were here…”
I turned toward Heidi and smiled. “He’d tell me to quit talking to myself before I got myself committed.”
“It’s strange he doesn’t have that ongoing inner monologue, right?
“Very strange. I miss him.”
“Same, but he’s protecting the most important person in the world. To him at least.”
I nodded, my thoughts immediately going to Hayden. As they always did when someone spoke about their person or people. After all this time, I didn’t expect that to change, so when my eyes gazed at the spot where I last saw Marcie, it took me by surprise.
Hayden was my husband. I loved him. He consumed me. And, yes, I’d once suggested we open things up so that a third person could meet our needs more fully, but I didn’t believe we’d find them. I hoped, yes. But looking at Marcie, I could see it. Clear as day. I didn’t even need to close my eyes to see it.
She was freaking gorgeous, but not supermodel beautiful, which I wasn’t the least bit attracted to, but beautiful in a real way. The way that made me think of the house I just finished. The one I’d built for Hayden, not that he’d ever see it, but yeah. I pictured her at the kitchen island, curled up in the corner of the sofa reading—if she read—or better yet, curled around my side in the big ass bed I ordered to fill the bedroom that was way too big for the size of the house.
And I saw Hayden there with us.
I just didn’t know if I could make it work.
“You okay, cuz?”
Looking back at Heidi, I tried covering up the shock of seeing her there. Fuck me, now two people could distract me to the point I lost touch with reality. I glanced back at the door Marcie disappeared through and rubbed the back of my neck.
“Yeah. I’m good.”
Heidi chuckled and coughed to cover what she said, but I still heard her.
“Liar.”
I ignored her as best I could, but that didn’t stop my eyes from going back to that spot, searching for Marcie.
“You do remember you’re married, right?”
“Yes.”
The word came out in a grumble. I didn’t need a reminder that I was married. My dick hadn’t seen any action in years thanks to my husband’s stubborn refusal to speak to me or to sign the damn divorce papers. Not that I wanted him to sign them. I wanted us to work our shit out.
Another glance toward the door.
Now more than ever.
“Well, good. I thought you might need a reminder since you can’t seem to take your eyes off the pretty little thang who works for Katie.”
I clenched my teeth.
“I don’t need a reminder. I’m well aware of my situation, thank you very much.”
I stalked off before I said or did something I’d regret.
The whole family had their noses so buried in my shit I’m surprised they had the time to devote to anything else. Hayden and I were the topic of conversation in every room I entered. Or so I assumed. It was a good guess since they shut their gossipy traps as soon as I walked in.
“The doc took Hayden for a CAT scan. They should be getting back soon,” Heidi called out to me as I ducked through the door. The same one Marcie had disappeared through.
