“No,” I declared, leaving no room for any other option.“Never.But maybe I could have done something to make Hannah see that there was never any risk of me screwing around with Christy.”
“Hannah wanted you all to herself.If she managed to get rid of Christy, she would have come for me next.Or your parents.She would have isolated you from everyone if she had her way.”
I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the couch.Oscar wasn’t wrong, but he didn’t understand.His marriage was a good one.Emily was his entire world, and he was hers.Their family was strong and happy.Emily grew up in Amethyst Bay, but she was two years younger than us.They started dating when she was a freshman and we were juniors.Her parents fought it, but the two of them stayed together through high school and college.They were married the weekend after Emily finished college and moved back to Amethyst Bay.She was a structural engineer who specialized in bridges.She worked for the county, inspecting and repairing the many bridges in the area.
I never had the kind of marriage Oscar and Emily had.Hannah was resentful of everything.She saw how Oscar and Emily were and thought our marriage fell short.Thought I fell short.Hannah wanted me to treat her the way Oscar treated Emily.Hannah wanted to be the center of my world.
But she never was.
Because I never loved her the way Oscar loved Emily.I never saw Hannah as my entire world.I loved her, I wanted to be with her, but everything about our marriage was exhausting.She deserved better.
Which was why I never pushed back on her after we were divorced.I failed her.I failed our marriage.I didn’t love her the way I should have, and I paid the price for it by being single since the divorce.
Oscar heaved a sigh.“What did Evie say about the party?”
“I haven’t been home.I needed to cool off so I don’t say something to her about her mother being a pain in my ass.”
“Or maybe you should tell her that.”
“You know I’d never.”
Oscar shrugged.“I think Evie deserves to know what her mother is like.”
“I think she knows more than I think she does.”I took another sip of my beer, then grinned.“Guess who Evie has a crush on.”
Oscar looked at me, smirking.“Who?”
“Jeffrey.”
“My nephew, Jeffrey?”
I nodded.
Oscar laughed.“Oh, shit.That’s funny.He’s too old for her.”
“That’s what he said, apparently.”
“She told him she has a crush on him?”
“She didn’t elaborate.I don’t think she meant to tell me, but we were talking about Chris.She asked if we ever dated, and I said she’s like a sister.She said Jeffrey said the same thing.”
Oscar winced.“Wow.That hurts.”
“Yeah, but he’s not wrong.Three years is a lot when you’re in high school.”
“Not so much when you’re older, though.”
I nodded.“And if she still likes him when she’s older, they’ll have to see if it’s right.For now, I’m happy your nephew is smart enough to not screw around with my daughter.”
Oscar snorted.“Want me to talk to him?”
“No.I’m not worried about it.She’s dated before.Not that I like it.”
Oscar laughed.“Oh, man, I remember when the boys started dating.I was so scared one of them would bring home a pregnant girlfriend.”
“Thankfully, they didn’t.”
“Yeah.I still worry sometimes, but they’re getting closer to independent, so if they do end up getting someone pregnant, there’s a better chance they can handle being fathers.Hopefully they don’t until they’re settled in careers, but shit happens.”
