I shook it, gave a tight squeeze. “And you are?”
“Sorry! I’m Thad Covington. Lauren’s guy.” He put an arm around her shoulder, and was it my imagination that she flinched a touch? Because of me or because of him?
I looked forward to finding out.
“Nice to meet you.”
“And in case you’re wondering, I’m not in pro sports—well, I used to play football in college until I blew out my knee—so, not to be. Now I run an investment fund.” He pulled a card holder out of his pocket. “If ever you’re in need of financial advice, I’m your man. I have a lot of athletes for clients.”
I skimmed the card he gave me. Thad Covington & Associates. Score big with your cash.
I caught Lauren’s eye. She looked embarrassed at her boyfriend’s touting for clients in this casual setting.
She spoke up. “Thad, no business talk at the fun cookout.”
“Sorry, can’t help it. I’m always thinking of how to make my clients happy.” Chuckling, he turned back to me. “So, you and Jason go way back, huh?”
“Yes, we were at the University of Michigan at the same time. With Lauren, too.”
Thad’s brow crimped. “Babe, you didn’t tell me you went to college with Alexei Nazarov.”
“No? Must’ve slipped my mind.” Seeming to realize that might be too revealing, she added, “To be fair, Isner’s ego was the star of our graduating year.”
Jason stuck out his tongue at her, and she stuck it out right back. These two had always been close, and while I might have been concerned once, I no longer had worries on that score. The way Jason looked at Francesca told me all I needed to know about the owner of his heart. He was a man in love—and it wasn’t with his friend of many years.
Thad looked between us all. “So. Cool. Hard to believe I get to hang with these legends.”
“Oh, they don’t need to hear that,” Lauren said. “Okay, I need a drink. Can I get something for anyone?”
We all demurred, and Lauren headed off into the house, her long stride eating the ground with purpose. She was clearly uneasy holding court with both her husband and her boyfriend at the same time.
What was most interesting, though? He knew who I was, but not who I was. It had been three days since I showed up at her office with the news, and she had yet to share it with the man who was supposed to mean so much to her.
“So, Covington,” Jason said. “I heard Boden’s your favorite Rebel.”
Thad’s eyes widened a touch. “Nah, you’re the best, man!”
“Just messing with you. You can have more than one, and we all know it’s probably me anyway. Just don’t tell Hatch.”
Thad laughed uproariously, though Jason’s words weren’t all that funny.
I’d had enough of this guy. He was barely of interest and that was only because of his current relationship with Lauren.
My wife.
It was hard to believe, and before I had arrived at this cookout, I would have thought it even harder to understand how I could keep it that way. But now I had met the man who was not worthy to tie her skate laces. This knowledge only hardened my resolve.
I made my excuses and followed her into the house. No sign of her in the kitchen so I wandered the rooms seeking her out. I found her upstairs, hovering at a doorway to a room with yellow walls, a bookshelf with toys and books, and one of those hanging things with butterflies. The baby’s room.
“Lauren,” I said softly.
Her shoulders stiffened. “What do you want?”
“We need to talk.”
“I’m not sure we do. I have a lawyer on the case. He’s looking into what needs to happen to make this un-happen.”
Still resisting. I understood. She thought her life was going in one direction and I had pulled her into the getaway car, speeding away from the scene of the crime.
