I stare after him, licking the taste of lemon from my lips.
Why did I even come? I knew he’d be here, and I knew this was how he’d react. He hates me, and I can’t blame him. We made plans, not only did I bail, but I did it in the worst way possible.
Maybe I just like torturing myself.
Dipping into the lake, the twins and I splash each other for a while, and I decide that kids aren’t so bad. Gray is sweet, and Asha has a broody kind of temperament that I can appreciate.
When Guy comes out in just swimming shorts, I lower myself into the water, only visible from the nose upwards as I watch him. He’s such a god. Broad. Muscular. Solid. No wonder he could throw me around as he fucked me; the man looks like he could bench-press a truck.
He talks to Gable for a minute or so, and it looks tense.
Has he told Gable about us? He would never tell Ella, but maybe he needed to confess to someone and his son-in-law was available.
Reaching for the floating patio, I grip it andpull myself out of the lake, gritting my teeth against the pain in my side. Water drips down my body and my T-shirt clings to me, dark enough to hide the marks down my ribs. I pull my hair over one shoulder before squeezing out the excess moisture and walking over to Guy and Gable. Guy does a double-take but smoothly continues his conversation as his gaze drifts down my body. Gable doesn’t even seem to be paying attention; he’s keeping an eye on the twins and Ella.
“Do you have any food, Gable?” I ask, picking up my lemonade again. “I’m hungry, and I have a big appetite.”
“We’re having a barbeque in two hours. Can you wait?” Gable asks, his lips twitching into a smile as Asha giggles.
“Speaking of, I’ll be heading out right after,” Guy says. “I have a date.”
The glass cracks in my grip.
Heat rushes across my skin, and I’m unsure if I’m going to hit someone or be sick. Either way, a disgusting unease has taken form in my stomach, and I want to claw it out.
Date.
Who the fuck does he have a date with?
Guy smirks. “Can’t wait for that barbeque, though. Guess I’ve got a big appetite, too.”
I’m not jealous.
I’m not.
I’m happy for Guy. Sure, we had something, but I left, so if he wants to move on, that’s great. Fucking fantastic. But unless this woman is perfect, she doesn’t deserve a minute of his time.
So, I’m lingering in a dark hallway like a creep, waiting for him to come upstairs.
He’s laughing at something Ella is saying, and I press my back to the wall, waiting. Footsteps thud up the wooden stairs, and he doesn’t notice me until he’s at his door.
When we lock eyes, he tenses. “Jesus Christ, Lina!”
“Shush!” I snap, shoving him and eyeing the stairs. The conversation between Ella and Gable continues as normal, so they mustn’t have heard him. I press my finger into Guy’s bare chest. My god, this man is solid muscle. “Who are you going on a date with?”
“None of your business,” he whispers. “You left, remember?”
“I can still be concerned about you! What if she’s after your money?”
He arches a brow. “I was a police officer, not on Wall Street.”
“What if she’s dangerous? Like Vivien?” I get closer. “I’ll scare her off for you.”
Guy searches my face. “You’re offering to help?”
“Yes.” I swallow, my throat suddenly dry. “I know you liked how I handled things last time.”
The space between us vanishes so quickly that all the oxygen leaves my lungs.
