“The being withhimpart, yes,” I say, and that’s the truth, no matter what else is going on. “It doesn’t mean it’s been entirely easy—at least the parts involving everyone else.”
“Makes sense. I remember that, too.”
I’m sure he does. As a well respected art dealer (and a young, handsome one at that, from a moneyed East Coast family) it wasn’t like he’d hadnoexperience with celebrity or press.
But dating Kim Watterson made him a household name, and I know, for him, that was generally more of a drawback than a benefit.
“Actually,” he continues, sounding reluctant. “That’s kind of why I’m calling, that part about other people’s reactions.”
Now I’m really confused. “What do you mean?”
He lets out a sigh, and I can almost picture him, leaning back in his chair at his San Francisco office—he started working more frequently there after our breakup—and tapping his pen against his knee. “Ivy called me.”
My jaw drops. “What?”
“About an hour ago. I was pretty surprised to hear from her, obviously.”
Obviously is right. Ivy and Roger got along well, but they were never particularly close—which was totally my fault. I kept the romantic and family pieces of my life as separate as possible, because deep down, I knew they’d never fit together, not after I’d ripped them apart.
Something I worry may still be true.
“Why did she call you?” I ask, still trying to wrap my brain around this.
There’s a bit of a pause. “It seemed like she wanted me to try to win you back.”
“What?” I know I keep saying this, but I can’t imagine why—
Oh wait. Of course.
I groan, even before he says the next part.
“She told me that you were, and I quote, ‘superunhappy,’” he says. “That you didn’t really want to be back together with Blake because you were really still in love with me.” Another pause. “That you have been all this time.”
There’s a hint of sadness in that last bit, though he says it wryly. I doubt Ivy meant to hurt Roger with this little stunt, but she couldn’t have salted that wound better if she’d tried.
“Oh my god, Roger.” I press my palm to my face. “I’m so sorry she did that. She’s been . . . resistant to the idea of Blake and me together, trying everything to convince us to break up. I never thought she’d do something likethis.”
“It’s okay. Really. I just thought you should know.” He chuckles again. “She’s a pretty good little actress herself, though.There were tears on your behalf and everything.”
“I bet there were tears, but they certainly weren’t onmybehalf.” I rub my forehead. What the hell are we going to do about Ivy?
“Well, even so, I wasn’t particularly inclined to believe her story. And I’m glad to know that’s all it is.”
“It is, Roger. I’m sorry. Blake and I—it feels so right to be together again.” I hope that’s not too much, too hurtful. But it’s true, and I’m guessing Roger knew that long before he made this phone call.
“That’s great, Kim. I’m really happy for you and for Blake.” He sounds sincere, and my heart lightens. “Even though it hurt like hell when we broke up, I know it was for the best. For you and for me. I’m glad for both of us that you were brave enough to do it.”
His words bring tears to my eyes. I always hated what I did to Roger, how he got tangled up in my mess. And though I can’t take that back, either—so many things I can’t take back—at least he doesn’t blame me for cutting him free of it.
“Thank you,” I manage. “I mean it.”
“Of course,” he says.Then, in a brighter tone: “I’m actually datingTheresa now. For the last couple months. It’s been going really well.”
“Theresa from your office?” I remember her from a trip we took to San Francisco. She was a museum curator he’d recently hired for acquisitions, a cute brunette with a wicked sense of humor. I really liked her, even though it was clear she was fighting a pretty big crush on Roger. “I could tell she had a thing for you!”
He laughs. “I know, and I didn’t believe you. But I should have known better. Kim Watterson is always right.”
“Don’t forget it,” I say, smiling. “So you’re happy, then?”
