A wave of fury like I’d never felt before rushed through me. Instead of turning into the driveway, I turned around and left the neighborhood. I was driving to his office to see what the hell was going on.
I knew I’d have to steel myself for what I might find when I got there, but I didn’t think I had a choice anymore.
I needed to know the full, harsh truth of what exactly my husband was up to.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Thatcher
I stared into Mads’ eyes across the candle-lit table. We were at one of the nicest restaurants in Atlanta in a reservation-only room. I didn’t need anyone seeing us together and reporting back to Carrie, who was growing more and more suspicious. Not that I thought anyone from Indigo Falls would be here tonight. But you never knew for sure.
“I guess I just don’t understand why you’re still with her,” Mads said, holding eye contact as she took a sip of her wine.
I ran my hand through my hair. I didn’t want to talk about my marriage. I’d rather just enjoy my time with Mads and bury my head in the sand. “She’s my wife.”
She gave me a look. “You’re with me for lunch and dinner almost every day. You never make it home to eat with your wife anymore. When you get home, we spend most of the time texting or talking to each other after she’s gone to sleep. What’s left in your marriage?”
Not much. I knew it, but I wasn’t ready to admit it yet. I’d ruined Carrie and me. And it was all because of the stunning woman sitting across from me.
“Do you still sleep with her?” Madison asked lightly. It was obvious that she cared a lot more about the answer than she was pretending to.
I actually really fucking loved my sex life with Carrie. It was the one area where we never struggled, not even after Mads had come back into my life. “Yes. She’s my wife, Mads. Am I supposed to tell her no every night?”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m just ready for when we can be together. When are you going to divorce her and give us the future we deserve?”
I hesitated. Something held me back from completely ending my marriage. There was part of me that still loved Carrie. There was also part of me that remembered it was Madison who’d caused this in the first place. If she hadn’t ended our engagement all those years ago, we’d be together now. I never would’ve met Carrie, and I wouldn’t have to break her heart.
I sighed but didn’t say anything.
“You’re still punishing me, aren’t you? I’ve told you I know I made the worst mistake of my life back then. I know it. But are you going to make me pay for it forever?”
“I don’t remember you telling me that, Mads.”
She glared at me. “Are you calling me a liar? Of course it was the worst mistake of my life! I’ve regretted it every day since then.”
I started to ask why she hadn’t ever answered my calls or tried to contact me since then, but she looked as if she was about to cry. I reached across the table and held her hands with mine.
“No. Of course not. I’ll figure something out with Carrie. She’s not stupid. She knows something’s very off between us.” I squeezed her hand. “I honestly thought she might divorce me after Mom’s party. And she might still,” I admitted. “We’re going to talk about our marriage soon. I’ll know more then.”
“You promise? You’ll make plans to divorce her?”
“I’m not promising anything. But if things continue down this path, I don’t see how the marriage can continue.”
Mads smiled and took a leisurely bite of her salmon. “That makes me so happy. Now, let’s enjoy the rest of our dinner.”
She took her foot and ran it up the side of my pants leg. I felt myself growing hard for her just with that simple touch. It wouldn’t be long, I knew, before I trashed my marriage vows all to hell and ended up sleeping with Madison.
I didn’t want to do that to Carrie. Maybe Mads was right to push for a quick divorce. Then I could finally be with her like I’d been dreaming of for months now.
The truth was, though, that if I’d already made the decision to separate from and potentially divorce Carrie, nothing had to hold me back. I hardened to the point of pain. Maybe it was time to take that step.
My phone buzzed a few times during dinner, but I silenced it quickly. I knew it would be Carrie. I didn’t want to be distracted from my night out with Madison. Sure, we got dinner together most nights before I trudged home to Indigo Falls and played house with Carrie. But it was never enough.
When it came to Madison Welles, I didn’t think it would ever be enough.
It seemed I had finally made my decision. I’d have to leave Carrie. I ignored that tiny little part of my brain that kept warning me something wasn’t right and tried to be at peace for the first time in months.
Mads and I strolled through the beautiful fall night. The restaurant had been close enough to the office to walk. When we got to the office, I typically called a car to take her home. Then I would go wrap up any work I had left to do before leaving for Indigo Falls.
