He’s given me a lot to think about.
“I’m sorry I didn’tcallyou to tell you I got married,” I tell him so I can pull focus from me and Demi. Not that Raegan and I are a much better topic.
I do feel bad I never had a real conversation with him back then about what was going on. I planned on it, but I was too caught up in Raegan to even think about anyone else. And then I had to go ahead and fuck everything up. I really thought I was saving her from… me.
Seeing her fall apart like that damn near broke me.
“It’s fine man.” He claps me on the back. “It just caught me off-guard. I thought I knew all there was to know about you. Finding out you’ve actually had a wife for the last twenty years was… a lot.”
“I get that. I also had no idea we were still married, if it helps.”
“How exactly did that happen, again?”
“I sent her the papers and like a dumbass, I never followed up.”
Ryker sighs. “That wasn’t the smartest move, that’s for sure. But, now that she’s here you can take care of it.”
“Yeah, I had Ben draw up papers. Once they’re signed andI’vefiled them, I should be good to move on the land contract.” I run my fingers through my hair and suck in a long breath. “Except she saw me tie up Demi and then finger her, so she ran off. I had to have Axel get the location of her hotel, so I could take the papers to her and then I forgot them.”
He buries his face in his hands, letting out a hard puff of air. “Jesus, Hayes.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” His head lifts and his eyes bore into me. “This isn’t like you. Between the two of us, you’re the one that always has the clear head. It’s why you’ve always been so good at running this place. You don’t miss anything, let alone small details. How is it that you forgot the fucking divorce papers?”
I think I’d also like the answer to that one. Although, I’m not sure I’ll find it. I’m not even sure I’m sorry I forgot them.
“Wait… she ran off?” Ryker asks. “I thought she hated you.”
“She does.”
“Hayes, please tell me you’re not actually this naive. A woman doesn’t run off when she sees the man she’s married to with another woman, when she hates him.”
“That was about Demi. Not me,” I assure him with a confidence I don’t really feel.
He lets out a loud scoff. “That certainly makes things more complicated. Does she know about your dad and how he fucked you up for all women?”
“I couldn’t bring myself to tell her. Even after she told me how much it broke her that I left her.”
“Fucking hell, dude. Sounds like she might still have feelings for you both.”
His phone vibrates on the table and he turns to check it, his eyes brightening as he sees whatever just came through.
“Sorry, my friend,” he says while sliding to exit the booth and sucking down the rest of his bourbon. “I’ve got to get back home. Duty calls.”
I can’t help but roll my eyes. I’m happy for him, but he could be a little less enthusiastic about running home to fuck his wife.
I wave him off and he pauses. “You need to do a little soul-searching. And then you need to talk to them both. Maybe separately. I have no idea what putting you all in a room together would look like and with all the emotions that seem to be flying around, I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”
He saunters off to talk to Roxie before leaving out the back and leaving me to my thoughts. Then I sit there for too long, nursing my drink, before I shoot off a text and head home.
20
Raegan
My legs bounce up and down anxiously, the rubber of my shoes tapping against the pavement as I wait on the hard metal bench outside The Chicago Aquarium for Demetria to arrive.
I wanted to pick somewhere neutral for us to meet. I love aquariums and so does she, so it seemed like as good a spot as any.
