Page 177 of Unleashed

He grabs the door chain, but I shove his hand. “Go before I call the cops and end your law career before it begins.” I’m not a spiteful bitch, but I may use Ricky to scare him.

Greg snaps, “I don’t give a shit!”

“Maybe you’re insane!”

Greg moves closer to the door opening and seethes, “He’d better not fucking touch you.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so!”

“Not good enough!”

His eyes blaze as Greg bares his teeth and roars, “Because you’re mine, Simone! Fucking mine, goddamn it!”

I bite my trembling lip as my eyes well amid Greg’s angry panting. “That’s the thing. I’m only yours when you want sex. We were married, but when things got tough, you accused me of cheating. After you came here to help me with my dad, I dreamed you said you loved me, proposed to me for real, and we married in front of our families. Jackie gave me away. You couldn’t wait until our honeymoon, so we sealed the deal in a bathroom.” I laugh as tears trickle down my cheeks. “And then nine months later, we were parents. Oops. Messed up again.” I swipe my nose with the back of my hand, feeling strange that I’m spilling my guts to my ex-husband through the small door opening.

Greg looks down and mumbles, “I thought I wanted all that like you.”

“Or with me.” I shake my head. “You never wanted me in Durham or here. You used me to clear your conscience. I get that I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m worthy of love. If you can’t see that now, then you’ll never want me. So stop fooling yourself, Gus. Cinderella will find her prince. Even if I’m a dense college kid, I don’t need you to babysit me to absolve your guilt.”

Greg throws me a sour scowl. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Then what are you doing? I know what I want, and it’s not playing second fiddle in your fucked-up orchestra!”

He frowns and his brown eyes pierce me. “You’re not second.”

I roll my soggy eyes and try to calm down before saying, “Well, I’ll never be first. I won’t waste my time on a man who doesn’t give two shits about me while a goddamn annulment never changed my feelings for you.”

Greg’s hard-as-steel gaze flies to my face. “You’re high if you think you didn’t do shit to me, skipping town and erasing our marriage.”

“It’s hard to believe you when everything you told me has been a lie.”

“You’re so innocent, saying it wasn’t you in the guest room at Shasta’s hit-the-road party? I know it was you!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about! All I know is Finn told me to forget about you, but I didn’t listen.”

Greg grits his teeth before spouting, “It’s none of Wilder’s fucking business! He’s always hated me because I’m friends with his wife!”

“I’m sure you are.”

“What the hell does that mean? I told you we’re only friends. I never slept with Hadley.” He looks away from me for two seconds, and to me, it’s so telling.

I cross my arms and lean against the door frame. Greg pushes on the partially open door again, but it doesn’t move. “You’re lying about your feelings for her. I know it. She’ll always be the most important woman in your life. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t sleep with her. You want to. I think you love her.”

With a frustrated growl, Greg storms from the stoop to the sidewalk but then turns around and stomps back to my front door. He braces his hands on the doorframe and the door. His voice drips with acid. “Yeah? Well, she didn’t fuck me up or ruin my life like you did. What does that tell you?”

I swallow and step back from the door. “That you hate me. You broadcasted it in front of the team and my brother.” My voice rises and breaks, but my gaze doesn’t leave his. I will survive this. I have to.

Greg takes a jagged, deep breath. “I didn’t say that. I said I didn’t...”

“Right. You said you didn’t love me. My mistake since my name isn’t Hadley. Just know she and my brother are in love. Not that you and I would know what it feels like.” Greg’s eyes harden, and I clear my throat and stare at the edge of the door.

He admits, “I’m sorry for everything I said earlier. I lied to Tansy to throw her off. I hated everyone judging what I do.”

I slide my gaze back to his. “But you wanted the office to know you hate me. I kissed you, and it infuriated you. I think you’re embarrassed I’m your ex-wife.”

“That’s not it! I wanted to kiss you back, but Tansy was watching.” Frustrated, he swipes his hand into his hair. His brown eyes shine as he grinds his teeth, saying, “Fuck, Simone. Tell Junior to leave. I need to be with you.”

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