Excuse me!Did you forget you’re married?
Excuse you,my brain shot back. Did you forget you filed for divorce?
It was clear from Griffin’s expression that he knew the woman. What I couldn’t tell was whether he was happy to see her or not. But she was definitely happy to see him. She was practically drooling, eyes sparkling, gaze dragging over him from his boots to his hair. She laughed and slapped him on the chest, and I nearly choked again.
Maggie pounded me on the back. “Are you okay?”
I chased the French fry down with a sip of Sunkist. “Um, guys.” I gulped. “Who is Griffin talking to?”
They looked over, and Bowen huffed out a laugh. “That’s Kynzleigh. With a Z.”
“Kynzleigh with a Z?” I snorted. “Where are we? Utah?”
Maggie giggled.
But I wasn’t giggling. At all. “And how does he know Kynzleigh with a Z?”
The corner of Bowen’s mouth twitched. “She’s his ex.”
I swore silently and forced my eyes away from Griffin to look at Bowen. “His ex?”
“Mm-hmm.” Bowen let that land, smirking. “She was his first love.”
My stomach wrenched, threatening to toss up that French fry and all the ones before it.
Bravo. Slow clap. Clap. Clap. Way to make yet another life-ruining decision.Did you honestly think he’d just… what? Sit around pining for you forever?The man is a walking swoon factory. Of course, he’s going to get snatched right up. Possibly by Kynzleigh with a Z.
He can’t end up with her. She’s not good enough for him!
What’re you talking about? She’s beautiful.
“Not as beautiful as me,” I muttered.
Thankfully, Maggie had gone back to snuggling with Bowen and didn’t hear.
I pressed my palms against the table as a burst of clarity hit, quick and undeniable.
I’d once again underestimated this wild, wondrous love I had for Griffin Dupree.
And I couldn’t give him up.
Definitely not forKynzleigh.Not even for DayGlow. I didn’t care if that made me weak. At least I was weak for him.
All it had taken was one thirsty ex-girlfriend with an atrocious belly button tattoo, and just like that, all my plans for a divorce vanished.
I undid the chain around my neck, dropped my wedding ring into my palm, and slid it onto my ring finger. Then I refastened the chain, with Griffin’s band still attached. I shoved out of the booth and sprang to my feet, striding towardmyman.
Theo saw me just before I got to them and flicked up his brows.
I don’t know who said what, but right then, Griffin hissed, “Just remember, Jim-Bo, I know where Dad keeps the bander.”
Oh, that didn’t sound good. And I didn’t want to find out what he’d say next. Maybe he’d compliment Kynzleigh—maybe make a remark about how he liked her terrible tattoo.
So I let out a bright, covering laugh, closed the distance, and wrapped both hands around his right bicep. “Hey, baby,” I murmured.
He turned to me, startled.
“I forgot to give you your ring.” I reached up and undid the chain, tossing Kynzleigh a friendly smile. “I have to keep track of it for him when he’s out doing farm work, or he’d lose it,” I said as his band dropped onto my palm.
