Page 34 of Before We Were Us

This cannot be happening.

How do I always manage to snag the liars and the cheaters?

I place my key in the door, turn the lock and push it open. The sounds of laughter greet me as I step inside. Both Marco and Taylor turn and together I watch the happiness in their eyes fade as they see me standing there.

“He’s married,” I say in a rush as the first tear falls.

Marco’s eyes grow wide. Taylor’s brow wrinkles in confusion.

“What?” She places her wine glass onto the coffee table and stands.

“He’s married,” I say again and Marco joins Taylor as they both start walking toward me. “Jensen is married.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Taylor roars and at the same time Marco asks, “Are you sure?”

“I just met his wife.” I drop my bag to the floor and kick the door closed behind me. “She is a goddess with the perfect boobs, a perfect tiny waist, and killer legs. Not to mention her hair, eyes, and well, everything else is incredible too.”

“And what, you’re an ogre?” Marco says. “Don’t you dare even start that shit. You are a fucking goddess. That woman has got nothing on you.”

“You have no idea?—”

“Yes,” he interrupts me. “I do know.” The look in his eyes warns me to not even attempt to argue.

The buzzer rings through the apartment and my heart feels like it sinks all over again.

“I can’t do this.” I shake my head. “I can’t.” I continue to shake my head and walk toward my bedroom. Just before I shut the door I hear Taylor’s voice echo in the apartment.

“I really don’t give a shit what he has to say Perry, tell the two-timing bastard to leave. That or I can come down there and tell him myself.”

“I’ll bail you out,” Marco announces and I shut the door hoping more than anything that it all just disappears.

twenty-one

. . .

Jensen

I’m seething as I’m staring down at the one man that is blocking my way to Brynn.

“Ms. Hudson says it's best that you leave.”

“Tell her that she can come down here and tell me that herself.” If I could just get Taylor to hear me out.

“I wouldn’t advise that, sir.” The man’s eyes widen. “I once saw Ms. Hudson drop a man to his knees right here in this lobby and he crawled out fifteen minutes later on his hands and knees once he was able to catch his breath. She can be quite mean.”

“I’ll manage,” I assure him and cross my arms over my chest, as I widen my feet.

He stares at me. I stare back and then he once again lifts the phone. Minutes pass before he lowers it back down and squares his shoulders. “It would seem they’ve decided they are done for this evening.”

My jaw tenses, my nostrils flare and I can’t say I blame them but it doesn’t make me any less pissed off.

Without another word I turn and walk back out onto the street. Fisting my hands at my sides I try to rein in the uncontrollable anger I feel.

Climbing back into my car I squeal away from the curb and drive toward Connor’s.

Chrissy wants me to react. She wants me to show up at her place, fuck that, my place. The place I paid for, the place I had long before I fucking made the mistake of marrying her. The place she refused to get the fuck out of.

But I won’t do it.

---