There have only ever been two moments in my life when the mere sight of a man made me want to turn violently murderous. The first was Heath, the night I saw his hands all over Skylar. The second is right now, standing face to face with the man who has been nothing but a nasty, irritating stain on my life.
He studies me with open curiosity and a trace of suspicion, slowly sizing me up. But there’s something else there too—distrust, jealousy… recognition, perhaps?
We’ve never officially met, but there could be a chance he knows who I am. Lucia would have definitely mentioned me in passing. Whether he’s seen me before, or even knows what I look like, I can’t be too sure.
“Hello?” His voice is deep and measured. “I’m Adrian, Zac’s dad. And you are?”
I’m relieved he doesn’t extend his hand. I don’t have it in me, now or at any point, to shake hands with this man.
“Kaden,” I reply, short with a trace of bitterness in my tone. “Hope’s friend.”
His gaze darts briefly to Hope, who stands silently, taking everything in, before snapping back to me.
“The friend whose housewarming you went to last night?” He aims the question at Hope, yet his eyes never leave me, sliding over me like a challenge—appraising, judging. I do the same, quietly studying him, wondering what it is about this guy that makes women fawn over him.
He’s good-looking in that ‘hot nerd’ sort of way, with a Clark Kent hairstyle and ocean-blue eyes. He’s half an inch taller than me, but leaner, not as muscular. From the skin that’s visible, not a single tattoo in sight.
Honestly? I think he punched well above his league with Hope. If I were him, I would’ve thanked my lucky stars that someone like her even gave me a chance at all.
“No, it wasn’t.” Hope answers, a hint of irritation in her voice. “It was his friends.”
“Are you two…?” He doesn’t finish the question, but we can guess what he’s implying. He assumes we’re either dating or fucking each other. Neither is true.
I don’t need to respond because Hope cuts in before I can.
“Adrian, we’re just friends. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“How long have you known my ex-wife, Kaden?” he asks, brushing off Hope’s remark and heated glare, his attention fixed on me now.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to agree with Hope. The details of our friendship are none of your business, and I’d appreciate it if you respected that.”
His eyes narrow, sharp and hostile. Clearly, I hit a nerve. He angles his head slightly to the side, his gaze drifting over me once more. “Why does it feel like I’ve seen you before?”
“I can assure you, we’ve never met.”
He points and shakes a lanky finger at me, the condescension setting my teeth on edge, and I have to stop myself from wanting to snap it in half.
“No… there’s something familiar about you. Like I’ve seen you from somewhere. I just can’t remember where and when.”
Suddenly, something snaps in his expression. His body stiffens, and his eyes widen in shock.
That look—I know it immediately—it’s recognition.
“Oh my god!” he says.
I glance at Hope, her brow drawn tight. She seems just as tense as I am, waiting for Adrian’s sudden revelation. From the disbelief etched in his expression, it’s clear he’s figured out who I am.
“You’re him, aren’t you?”
“You’re gonna have to be more specific than that.”
“You were with Lucia. Her boyfriend.”
Hearing that name again, from his mouth of all people, sets my blood on fire. The way he says it—so casual, so familiar, like he knew her more than he should have, like everything they did, and the lives they destroyed, meant absolutely nothing.
The sheer nerve of him dropping his affair partner’s name into this conversation, in front of Hope, no less, sends fury roaring through me, hot and relentless.
“And tell me, how is it that you know my ex-girlfriend?”
