Page 98 of Married to the Frenemy

“She did, did she?” I steal a glance at Haley before refocusing my attention on Maggie, her gray eyes filled with sadness and innocence.

“Do you know what helps me when I’m scared?”

“What’s that?” I manage to say through the lump in my throat.

“Fred.” She looks down at the weathered stuffed animal, its color faded and trunk wrapped in bandages from when Maggie played doctor and he was one of her unfortunate patients. Then she extends him toward me. “I want you to have him. Not for keeps, but for borrows.”

“I don’t want to take your stuffy.”

“Can you at least try, Beck?” Her expression falls as she looks at her feet. “I don’t like hearing Mommy cry.”

I dart my eyes toward Haley again, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

“Please?” Maggie begs.

Pushing out a long sigh, I take Fred from her. “Okay. I’ll try.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

HALEY

The scent of dust and cardboard surrounds me as I continue to pack up my belongings at Beckham’s house. When I moved out of my last apartment, I was diligent about keeping everything organized. Not this time. Now, I want to get out of here as quickly as I can. Especially this bedroom. I haven’t even been able to sleep in the bed since Beckham left, resorting to my old ways of sleeping on the couch at night.

“You don’t think he’ll change his mind?” Parker asks as I use my shoulder to prop my phone up to my ear so I can use both hands to pack.

“My daughter gave the man her favorite stuffy, for crying out loud,” I reply. “If that doesn’t thaw his cold, uncaring heart, I doubt anything will.”

“I know, but…” she trails off with a heavy sigh. “I really thought this was the second chance you both deserved.”

“It wasn’t a second chance, Parker. It was a carefully orchestrated manipulation by Grady and Grandma Estelle that backfired spectacularly. I should have known it would never work. Beckham proved years ago that he doesn’t care about me. This farce of a marriage was the reminder I needed.”

“Can you really say that, though? He gave up the vineyard for you. That’s got to count for something. That’s got to mean something.”

“Apparently not.”

Although, I still struggle to make sense of it all. If he doesn’t care about me, if he doesn’t love me, why would he sacrifice the one thing he’s always loved for me? But I can’t cling onto whatever glimmer of hope that one act has left me with, not when the rest of his actions prove otherwise.

“This just doesn’t feel right, Haley.”

“I can’t put my life on hold for someone who will always keep me just out of reach.” I take a long swallow of wine, then continue throwing my belongings into a box. “I’m just pissed it just took me this long to finally realize it.”

“Haley, I’m?—”

“It’s okay,” I interrupt before she can say she’s sorry. I’m not sure I can handle hearing it right now.

“How about this? I’ll bring over some liquor from the bar here at the inn and we can get sloppy-ass drunk.”

I laugh slightly, and it feels good. It’s probably the first time I’ve laughed since Beckham left.

“As much as I’d love that, I’ve learned the hard way that hangovers and kids don’t mix well. I’m in the middle of packing anyway.”

“Need any help?”

“I’m okay. Plus, isn’t Callum there for the weekend?”

“He is.”

“Then why are you talking to me? You should be spending time with your man before he has to head back out again.”

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