“That’s right. I spent six years in college and finally paid off that debt a few years ago. Not horrible, but it was there. No way I was relying on anyone to do it for me. It’s just not me.”
“Did you not want to be a stay at home mom? If things had turned out differently?”
“You know, there is nothing greater than being a mother, but it’s not all I’m meant to do. That’s how I look at it. I’m great at my job and I love helping people. I stayed home for six months and was itching to go back. Maybe that was my mistake. When I got out of work, I was dealing with Archer and everything else in the house and Tucker felt he came way down on the list.”
“Marriage is about compromise. Why not do some things to help you so you’re not doing so much when you got home?”
She pointed at him. “There, right there. That was one of many arguments. He started staying out later and I thought it was work. Why would I think otherwise with his job?”
Because her words were he was a narcissistic prick. Always doubt someone with those actions.
“Sounds like he gave you a reason.”
“He did. So yeah, he cheated, then when I questioned him, he denied it.”
“How did you find out?”
“My gut. I was suspicious. Just things didn’t line up.” She waved her hand. “It doesn’t matter. I couldn’t let it drop and hired a private investigator.”
“No shit. Good for you.”
“It was best to get it all documented at that point. Because cheating is one thing I won’t tolerate. Not even a whiff. I’m scarred at this point.”
He gulped. He felt the same way, but he was still accused of doing that with someone who was taken.
“I hear you there. I was raised to honor other people’s relationships, even if I was single.”
“Exactly. Anyone who would be with someone who they knew was taken means they’ve got character flaws themselves. That’s how I look at it. So anyway, he was cheating and we got divorced. It was messy for a bit until I ended it.”
He was curious how, but it wasn’t his place to ask.
“Moving on to other men.”
“It was about two years before I went on my first date. It felt as if I was just trying to get my feet under me. Archer had started school and it was who I thought was a father at his school.”
“Seems like a common thing. But what do you mean by thought?”
“Mark was a kid’s uncle who was helping his sister out. Picking her daughter up and dropping off half the time. We went on a few dates and I realized he was helping out of pressure, not because he wanted to. I don’t think he really liked kids that much.”
“Goodbye there,” he said.
“Exactly. I had a handful of miscellaneous dates after, nothing much more. Almost two years ago I was with someone for about four months. The only person I’ve slept with since my divorce.”
Shit. He’d have to tread carefully there too.
“What happened?”
“Alex didn’t like I wasn’t as available as he would have wanted so we parted ways. No drama, I just moved on. Since then, I’ve been very selective with my time.”
“Until your son almost beaned me with a basketball.”
“Until then.”
“Seems like it might be a little bit like fate.”
She reached for him again, their hands holding on loosely. “Seems it.”
17
