He frowns. “It’s early.”
“I know, but I’m exhausted, and I want to be alone right now, okay?” Please let him understand. The hardest part in all of this was figuring out how to tell him I dated his rival. Now that he knows, I have to figure out exactly what to tell him about the rest.
He purses his lips together and nods. “Good night, Bree-bear.”
“Good night, Wade.” I close the door, feeling this odd mix of relief and guilt. He used his nickname for me, so he must not hate me. Like me still? That’s a question for tomorrrow-me.
And since he found out about Chase, I should probably tell him the entire story sooner rather than later. I’d hate for him to hear false rumors before he hears the truth from me. My ex has a knack for putting his spin on things and coming out smelling like a flower in the middle of a manure pile. Granted, the stench remains, but he still looks pretty.
There’s a reason they call it gaslighting. When I realized Chase wasn’t exactly who I thought, I did some research, and that’s the word that kept showing up to explain how I would always feel like something was off, but when I confronted him about it, he would imply it was all in my head. The man is a master manipulator.
But no matter how many ways I try to spin it, I wind up looking like a stupid idiot, even to myself. How on earth can I explain it to Wade without appearing like that to him, too?
Chapter Thirteen
WADE
Luke: How’s Bree doing?
Wade: Dunno. She wouldn’t talk to me. Just went to bed.
Payton: Can you blame her?
Wade: What does that mean?
Ethan: Never force a woman to talk if she isn’t ready. Want confirmation? Ask Mia.
Elias: Yeah, that’s quite a story.
Ethan: Wait. When did she tell you about it?
Elias: Right after it happened.
Ethan: Bro, that was last month. Since when do you two talk about…things?
Elias: Since she started calling me your work wife. That’s the name she gave me on her phone, too. She showed it to me.
Mathéo: Wow, tellement émasculant.
Elias: Masculine? Hey, I kind of like that.
Payton: It means emasculating, you pillock. I thought you understood some French.
Elias: Basic French. Not complicated words. And Barbie-man, I officially hate you now.
Mathéo: And how did you know what it means, Maxwell? Have you been holding back on me?
Payton: I have a brain, mate. And Google…
Luke: Now that we’ve established Elias doesn’t understand as much French as he thought, and that Payton knows how to use Google, can we get back to helping Wade? What can we do to help, man?
Luke: Cowboy, you still there?
Ethan: Maybe he fell asleep.
Payton: Yawn. I almost did.
Ethan: I’m giving you the finger, Pay-man.
