I hated the idea of him in bed with another woman. No matter who she was or how much time had passed. But I couldn’t let what he just said go unchallenged.
“No interest,” I echoed, my eyes narrowing. “Are you honestly going to stand here and tell me you married Vanessa but never slept with her? Have you been celibate the whole time we’ve been apart?”
“I wish I could say I had been.” His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “I’m sure it’s no comfort to you, but I didn’t touch her until our wedding six months later. And even then, that part of our marriage didn’t last long. I hadn’t been with her for a long time before I filed for divorce.”
My stomach twisted, and I hated that his confession caused any reaction in me besides indifference. It wasn’t fair that he still had the power to hurt me after all this time. “You’re right, it doesn’t help.”
Although I did find the timing ironic. It sounded like his celibacy started around the same time mine ended. But I wasn’t about to share that bit of information with him. He didn’t deserve to know that I’d spent a full year unable to picture myself kissing another guy, let alone actually sleeping with them. If I hadn’t become friends with Jace while getting the bakery ready to open, Gage probably would’ve still been the last man I slept with.
Gage took a half step toward me but froze when I lifted a hand to ward him off. “I can’t do any more of this right now.”
We stared at each other across the counter. His eyes were stripped of every defense he usually hid behind. “I’ll give you space. But I’m not done trying to fix what I broke.”
I hated that I wanted to believe him.
8
GAGE
During the elevator ride up to Ethan and Callie’s penthouse, I slumped against the wall as a wave of exhaustion hit me. I’d barely slept. Tessa’s pained expression kept replaying every time I shut my eyes. Although I was relieved that she’d never walked away from me like I’d thought for so long, I hated how much my actions had hurt her.
I forced myself upright when the elevator came to a stop. Since the doorman had called up when I arrived, Ethan waited for me when the doors slid open. “You look like hell.”
“Thanks, man.” I shook my head with a chuckle. “I can always trust you to be honest with me.”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “That’s what friends are for.”
I followed him into the kitchen, my eyes widening when I saw the brunch spread. Enough food to feed a small army covered the marble island. Pancakes, fresh fruit, eggs, pastries, bagels, hash browns, and all sorts of condiments. Including a jar of pickles.
I flashed a smile at Callie. “If I didn’t already know you were pregnant, this would give it away.”
She shrugged around a forkful of eggs, and Ethan elbowed me in the side before making his way back to sit on the stool next to her. “Please tell me you’re not here because you missed the point of restructuring the financial division. I’m supposed to be spending less time in the office, not bringing the CEO home with me on the weekends.”
“I’m not here for work. This is personal.” I dropped onto a stool at the end of the island. “Although there are implications for Langford Tech.”
Ethan’s brows drew together, but Callie didn’t let him ask any of the questions I saw in his eyes.
“Eat,” she ordered, pointing at an unused plate. “You look like you haven’t slept, and my husband ordered enough food for the entire building. If you don’t help me out, I’ll have to freeze the pancakes, and the baby only likes them when they’re fresh.”
Ethan slid the plate toward me, muttering about how they could just order more whenever she had a craving for them again.
I wasn’t hungry, but I didn’t have the energy to argue. Serving myself some fruit and half a bagel, I asked, “How’s the pregnancy going?”
“Good except for wavering between being hungry or nauseous all the time.” Callie rolled her eyes. “And emotional. I cried yesterday because Ethan ate the last lemon bar. Which, in my defense, was rude.”
“I literally went out and bought you an entire new box,” Ethan pointed out with a grin.
“Doesn’t matter.” Callie lifted her chin. “I wanted that particular lemon.”
Despite everything weighing on me, my lips twitched. They were ridiculous. And so fucking happy. After everything they’d gone through, they more than earned the ease between them now.
“Is your mother still abiding by the no-contact rule?” Although I’d known Margot for years, I’d come up with several ideas to make her life hell if she was still crossing lines.
Callie snorted before Ethan could answer. “Yes, but only because he threatened her money.”
Ethan didn’t deny it. “Whatever works.”
Callie rolled her eyes and nudged him with her shoulder. “Healthy boundaries would’ve been enough for me. Your intimidation tactics were just a fun bonus.”
