“I told you, she’s just a stranger I met at the farmer’s market the other day, who shared some very helpful plant advice with me.”
“Do you usually offer refunds to people you’ve just met, and even go so far as to help their son with his school project?”
I take a long, hearty gulp of my water, unsure what to say, and from the look on his face, he knows he’s got me cornered.
“No, I didn’t think so,” he says, shaking his head. “Look, if you’re not going to tell me how you really know her, could you at least tell me if there’s something more between you two? Because I could’ve sworn I felt a bit of… heated tension from both of you.”
“What? No, of course not!”
“Kaden, I’m willing to bet China felt the heat radiating from you, so don’t even try to lie.”
“Jase, I swear to you, there’s nothing happening between Hope and me. We barely know each other. We get along, yes, but that’s all. She’s simply a new friend who also happens to appreciate my work, and give great plant tips. That’s the truth.”
He hums in response, still not thoroughly convinced.
“Okay, fine!” I concede. “I already knew her before we met at the farmer’s market.”
“You sly bastard! I fucking knew it!”
“It’s a bit of a complicated story, given the circumstances surrounding how we met.”
“Kaden, you should know me by now. I’m used to complicated. Try me. I got time.”
I draw in a breath, then release it in a long, sharp exhale. “Remember that guy Lucia had an affair with? Her colleague, the one who was married with a kid?”
“Yeah, what about him?”
I exchange a look with him—wordless, but revealing enough to spark a good guess.
He reads my expression, then within seconds, his brows lift in surprise, so high they nearly disappear into his hairline.
“No way!”
I nod, slowly. “Yeah.”
“No fucking way.”
I nod again.
“Holy shit. You’re telling me that woman is what’s-his-face’s wife, and that kid is his son?”
“Yep. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“Alright, now youhaveto start from the beginning. How the hell did you two end up meeting? Or better yet—who reached out to whom first?”
“I contacted her first. At the time, I was just so angry—at myself, at Lucia… and then at Adrian. Mostly, I was furious with him for abandoning Arianna without even bothering to meet her. He walked away from his baby, yet went home every single day, lying and deceiving his family, acting as though nothing happened. I don’t know why, but it all really got under my skin.”
Thoughts of Adrian returning home to his family—welcomed, praised, doted on like some kind of champion while he continued to betray them, haunted me for weeks. Itgnawed at me, especially at night, as I lay awake, knowing his wife and son had no idea who the man was behind the door they welcomed him through each day. That they were being deceived, reduced to unwitting fools in a life built on his lies.
I didn’t know them back then, but I knew with absolute certainty, they did not deserve what Adrian was putting them through.
“About thirteen months ago, I was stalking his Facebook, because I was curious. I didn’t find much, but I did come across his wife—Hope’s profile. I hadn’t planned to look her up, but I won’t lie and say I wasn’t curious about her too. I didn’t message her that night; I left it alone. That was until I saw her and her son, Zac, at your restaurant a few weeks later. I watched as she walked out and embraced Adrian, who had been waiting for them outside. And something about that image—Adrian grinning at Hope, like he was this loyal, devoted husband that finally made me snap.”
Jason slides onto one of the bar stools, his bottle of water set before him on the island, as he listens quietly while I explain.
“That night, I messaged Hope for the first time, telling her I had important information about her husband that she deserved to know, and asking if she wanted to meet in person so I could show her what I had. She didn’t respond immediately; in fact, it wasn’t until a few days later that I finally got a reply. At first, she was short with me, but she eventually agreed to meet. I drove two hours to see her, met her at a food court,and told her everything, even showing her the file Bryan had put together for me.”
“Fuck. That would’ve completely shattered her,” Jason murmurs, shaking his head empathetically.
