Page 183 of Unhinged

“Hi. It’s so good hearing your voice.” Hadley starts crying, and I sigh.

“Yours too.”

Amid crying, she says, “I’m so sorry about everything and how I handled it.”

“No way. I was wrong. I’m sorry. I truly am. I should never have shown up that night.” I was just on my Heartbreak Tour.

“I said things to you. I punched you.” She cries harder, and though I hear water running, I glance toward the bathroom door. Damn. Simone is naked as we speak.

“I deserved it. I said and did things too. I was such an asshole.”

“We definitely could’ve handled it better. I didn’t realize how you felt. I’m sorry, Greg.”

I recheck the door. “I know you love Wilder. After getting away from Richmond and gaining perspective, I realized how stupid I was. Wilder would die for you. I might make a donation to a charity in your name, but that’s pushing it.”

She giggles, but then her voice cracks. “I do love Finn. He’s my forever, but you’re special to me too. We helped each other through some tough times. I miss you. You’re not at work, and it kills me.”

I angle my head toward the ceiling. “I miss you too, Hadley.”

“Finn knows how much you being gone upset me. He said he talked to you.”

“He did and was nicer than I thought he’d be.”

“We still can’t believe you married his sister. You’re my brother-in-law. Oh, my God.” Hadley laughs.

“Crazy, isn’t it?”

“Then I heard about Birdy. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah. Me, too, but the kid’s probably better off.”

“No, she’s not. Grant refuses to take a paternity test and wants nothing to do with her.”

“Are you kidding me? He’s dumping Birdy?” Like I did.

“Yep. It should be a crime to do that to a child.”

“It can be. Shasta should sue to establish his paternity. If he fails to comply and submit to a test, the judge can charge him with contempt and throw Majorca into jail. Not for long, but it may shake him up. Plus, it’ll be an arrest and a stain on his spotless record. He should know that shit.”

“I don’t know what she’ll do. You know you can sue Shasta for paternity fraud, right?”

I sigh as I rub my jaw and check the bathroom door again. “Yeah.”

“I know Simone cares about Birdy a lot.”

“She does.”

“I still can’t get over you helping Simone to this extreme. You married Simone just to change Garrison? Who does that?” Hadley laughs again, and I smile.

“I guess I did.”

“You also went on a date with her? You don’t get along most of the time. I think you nearly killed each other when she helped you with Birdy.”

“We don’t hate each other. Simone and I… Our relationship… We’re spending more time together. I took her to Dad’s for dinner.”

“Wait. I thought your marriage was fake for a year?”

“It’s legal. We don’t live together, but we work together at Aunt Amy’s. So we see each other every day. Tonight, we’re staying at a hotel. She’s in the shower.”

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