"You weren't thinking," I say sadly. "Back then, it didn't matter to you. My feelings didn't even cross your mind. But now it's allI can think about. Every waking moment for the past several months, I've been haunted by thoughts of you with other women. The idea of ever being intimate with you again is unbearable. It just leaves me cold inside. No desire, no love, only sadness and pain. I'd only be haunted by the betrayal. Forgiveness, maybe someday, but there's no going back. I'll never be able to trust you again."
"Please don't say that, Melly." He drops his head to the concrete floor. It's not a pretty sight, but it doesn't move me the way it once would. Maybe I'm petty, but I feel vindicated.
"What did you expect, Jaxson? I waited for months. I never heard from you again. I'm done."
I hear a cough behind us. Jaxson jerks his head up just as I turn to see Bash standing there, his head slightly bowed, one hand rubbing the back of his neck.
"What are you doing here, Duchesne?" Jaxson snarls, leaping to his feet and quickly wiping his eyes.
"I… I owe her an apology, too." He's talking to Jaxson, but his eyes stay fixed on me.
I lift my chin, my voice cold. "You and your apology are unwelcome as well. I'm not in the mood to hear anything from a faithless friend, or a cheating ex." I look at Bash first, then at Jaxson. My meaning is clear.
"Faithless?" Jaxson glares murderously at Bash. "You were sneaking around with my wife behind my back?"
I snort, dripping with sarcasm. "Like you care! After months of ignoring me, deserting me, and making me feel invisible? How dare you accuse me of anything when you started your affair long before you forced me to accept your cheating? I have never strayed outside our marriage. Ever. Can you say the same?" I jab him sharply in the chest.
Bash steps forward, eyes burning. "You're wrong, Jaxson. After everything you put her through, we never did anything behind your back or otherwise. It was just a friendship, a beautiful one."
Startled, I meet Bash's eyes. "A beautiful friendship?"
"Yes, a beautiful friendship," Bash repeats, his gaze flicking from mine to my lips.
"She's my wife." Jaxson interrupts, voice sharp.
"Shut up, Jaxson," I snap. "I'm just a toy to you. You set me down, and now someone dares to be interested in me. Like the dog in the manger, you're fighting for property. I've been your wife in name only for months."
"Amelia… I love you," Bash says, his voice catching as he gulps, emotion choking his words. My eyes lift immediately to his, surprised, my heart skipping at the sincerity of his confession.
"I… I'm sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion at Christmas." He continues.
"I had begun to have feelings for you, too, Bash, but… "
"Please hear me out. I know you didn't lie to me, Firebird," he says gently. "It's just my insecurities."
I laugh in disbelief. "You have insecurities? Not possible."
"Yes. I've never known anyone as genuinely caring and kind as you. Women always made me feel like an object instead of a person. But not you, you looked at me, saw me for myself, not for how I look or what I can give you. With you, I truly feel seen. Important. Cared for. But when I learned you were Jaxson's wife, I doubted you in that moment. As soon as you left, I saw the footage of the charity game, and I knew I was wrong. I'm sorry it took that to pull me out of my head and make me see clearly again."
"It doesn't matter any longer," I whisper. "Too late. I don't trust you, now. Either of you." I look at Jaxson pointedly.
Jaxson's fists clench. "I'm not letting him take you from me." His voice is low and gravelly, but I can hear the hurt underneath.
Bash squares his shoulders. "I'm not taking anyone away from you, Kingston," he says, voice tight. "You left her… alone… neglected… for other women. You have no right."
Jaxson steps closer to Bash, nearly touching noses. "I have no right?" he breathes menacingly. "She's my wife."
"Yeah, but she's a person with feelings first," retorts Bash, eyes flashing with anger.
"She's right here and doesn't need a knight in shining armor to protect her," I say, rolling my eyes. "I'm fully capable of defending myself. So quit posturing. Both of you."
Unsurprisingly, Jaxson swings. The punch lands squarely across Bash's jaw. Bash stumbles but steadies himself. He looks ready to retaliate. I shout, "Stop it! Both of you!" but they don't hear me over their arguing.
Jaxson is bouncing on his feet. "You have no business being here. You're just doing this to thwart me."
"I didn't even know she was your wife until Christmas."
"I think you're lying," Jaxson sneers. "You knew exactly who she was, and you're trying to hurt me by stepping into my marriage."
