Benson did not appreciate the reminder that he had not quite come out to his partners before the big breakup.I was working toward it. After all, we were planning a wedding.And even if neither Oliver nor Desmond approved, they should at least put in an appearance at the wedding before minding their business forever.
“Why are you on my case about this? The woman who has been married and practically divorced sinceourdivorce.”
She chuckled. “My current husband is out. We’ve been separated for a few months now. Drew hasn’t mentioned it?”
“No.” He was only slightly surprised. “She only spreads rumors about me, apparently.”
“Of course she does. She’s a Daddy’s Girl.”
“Come off it.”
“She is, Ben. Drew has adored you since the day she was born, and you paraded her around the hospital to show her off to anyone who would look at your baby.” Was Sydney wistfully looking into the distance as she said that?If there’s one thing I can say about this woman, it’s that she loves our daughter.And that she was dedicated to a solid home life. Had Benson not been, well,himself…they might still be married, playing house and embracing being empty nesters.
But he was not meant for the life Sydney had in mind.
“She doesn’t pay much attention to my personal life. She thinks I’m stuffy and boring. If only she knew what we got up to before the divorce.”
Benson tried not to blush, but couldn’t refrain.
“Memories, there?”
“It’s awkward, all right? You and I were married for over ten years. And we definitely did some things toward the end there.”
“Back then, I resented it,” Sydney candidly said, only slightly surprising her ex. “These days, I rather appreciate you trying to spice things up, especially before we hit our late thirties. I’m not sure I would have had the spine to separate from Roger had I not had some of those experiences under my belt.”
“Why? He reminds you a little too much of me?”
“No, no. If anything, I ran straight into the arms of the mostboringman I could find. I’ve got needs, too, as you can attest. And Roger, well…” She shrugged. “He’s not interested anymore. He barely ever was.”
“I see.”
“I envy you, Ben. Honestly, I envy men like you. I always have.”
“What do you mean?”
“Being able to just go out and do what you want. Be who you are. You weren’t raised to be ashamed of even desiring sex, let alone asking for it.Payingfor it.”
“You really think I’m that open? I’ve never even told my partners that I’m bi. I waited years to tell you, because I knew how you would react.”
“Ben, if you think I didn’t know after the second hookup we had with another man, then you really must think I’m a daft woman. You couldn’twaitto get that guy out of his clothes.”
“Yeah, well…”
“You’re right, though. I reacted terribly. But it wasn’t because of who you were.”
He snorted. “That so?”
“I was tired of being yanked around. You being so coy about what youreallywanted, and me sitting there trying so hard to be the wife you desired. Well, that’s rather difficult when your own husband won’t be truthful with you. I think we both could have done a lot better.”
“And that leads to you being able to divorce your current husband?”
“Why, yes. I need someone between you and him. Someone with some sense of adventure, but maybe not with other people.”
“I can’t tell if you’re being rude or not.”
“I certainly don’t mean to be.”
Benson sank lower into his chair.I don’t care how many of my chins she sees.If anyone could see the “real” him as he grew older, heavier, and more wrinkly, it was the woman who also had a few gray hairs.And the woman who split in half, bearing my daughter.Never stopped her from being attractive to him. No, that was more the divorce that did it.
