I frowned. “About Phoebe?”
“Yeah.” He scoffed. “She said I should’ve stopped the whole damn thing before it even started. You know how much she hates that woman.”
I let out a slow breath. “Yeah. I know.”
William studied me for a moment, then shook his head. “You really screwed up, man.”
“I’m aware,” I muttered.
Silence fell between us for a few seconds.
“What did Elena say to Astrid?” I finally asked.
William scratched his temple. “She didn’t give details. She just asked if we knew anything... and Astrid put two and two together.”
I closed my eyes briefly, the shame burning all over again.
“Look,” William continued, leaning forward, forearms on the table, “I’m not gonna sugarcoat this. Elena’s hurt. Badly. And you made that wound yourself.”
My jaw tightened. “Yeah.”
“But,” he added, shrugging a little, “the fact she called Astrid instead of calling a lawyer? That’s something.”
I stared into my coffee, voice low. “I’m holding onto that.”
He leaned back, arm crossed. “Do I need to say ‘I told you so’? Phoebe might be pretty, but she’s always been a goddamn snake.”
“I know. I was stupid.” I tightened my grip on the cup. “I fell for her bullshit. I actually believed her.”
“Believed what?” He asked.
“The sob story,” I said flatly. “It was just leverage to make someone finance her problems.” I took a breath. “And I fell for it.”
William scoffed. “Yeah, yeah... but the real stupidity is you ending up in that hotel room with her. That’s fucking insane, especially you.”
I didn’t say anything. What was I supposed to say? He was right. Every word of it.
And no matter how many times I replayed that night, it all came back to one thing—I fucking let it happen.
“Does Judy know?”
I shook my head. “I can’t bring myself to tell her. And I don’t think Elena has told her either. But if she ever does...” I exhaled slowly. “I don’t know. She might cry. Or she might explode.”
“Oh, so Elena still has a heart. God bless her.” He nodded, almost disappointed. “And you wasted a wife like that.”
“Don’t remind me,” I muttered. “I’m already drowning in guilt.”
“You think divorce is still on the table?” Will asked.
“God, I hope not,” I muttered. “I avoid that topic like hell. I swear to God, I’m not letting her divorce me. I’ll get on my damn knees if I have to. I’m keeping her.”
“Tsk...” William crossed his arms, shaking his head. “You really went and created your own nightmare.”
“If only I didn’t get swept up in that damn woman’s lies.”
“That’s not entirely on her.” He scoffed. “Come on, man. I knew you were tempted the second she reached out after the reunion.”
He leveled me with a look. “I always knew you had a thing for her back in college. And when she came back into your orbit, it felt like… I don’t know—” he shrugged, “unfinished business or something?”
