Page 83 of Tiny's Law

I drop to my knees in front of her, internally groaning at how disgusting these floors probably are but not caring enough to move. I grab her hands in mine and look deeply into her eyes. My own tears blur my vision once again. “Kourtney, I am so sorry.”

She sniffs, pulling one of her hands out of mine and wiping her face. “I’m sorry, what?”

I wince, more tears pouring down my cheeks. I find it hard to breathe in this instance. Is it relief that’s cracking open in my chest?

Yes. That’s exactly what this is.

“I should’ve never believed him. I don’t know why I did. He’s all I’ve ever known, and I think I was holding out hope that he wasn’t as much of a pig as he truly is. I’m so sorry, Kourtney. I don’t know what to say other than I am so, so sorry.”

“I’m so confused. What makes you believe me all of a sudden?”

“I followed you. I heard everything he just said to you. I am so sorry.”

“Yeah, I heard you the first time.”

I pull my hands away from hers and push off the floor to take the empty space next to her on the loveseat. “Sorry.”

Kourtney spins her head towards me and looks me dead in the face. “I love your nephew.”

I nod. I can see that. I can also see that he loves her. That’s what made me so mad when I was convinced she was sleeping with Matt. How could she act so happy with him when she’s doing that? When she's that kind of person? I guess now I have my answer. She wasn’t that kind of person at all.

“I don’t know what to say other than I’m sorry. Can I please explain myself? I know I may not deserve it, but I’d really like to explain to myself,” I sniff.

Kourtney nods, and I release a relieved sigh.

“A few days before coming here, I got a letter. I read it so many times I can recite the entire thing word for word. ‘Dear Evelyn, I’m writing this anonymously for many reasons. Your husband, Matthew, has been cheating on you with many women here at the office, and it’s truly creating a ruckus. So much so that one of our well-respected lawyers tried sleeping with him to earn a promotion. She left town not long after not getting the promotion, which I’m assuming was due to someone else getting it over her. He’s also sleeping with me, multiple assistants, and someone in marketing. I’d just like you to know that I’m no longer sleeping with him after I discovered all of this. Best wishes.’ There was no signature, obviously. It was in my mailbox, with no postage. This woman obviously knows where I lived.”

Kourtney’s eyes follow me suspiciously the entire time I recite the letter. When I’m done, she takes a deep breath. “I can understand why you’d blame me.” Kourtney’s lip wobbles. “I didn’t sleep with him, Evie.”

I nod. “I know that now. I heard Matt say that himself. I’m sorry I ever believed you could. For what it’s worth, I always respected you, and I never understood why you were with a guy like Benjamin. He spoke so poorly to you. I always thought you were too good for him.”

“Ben spoke to me the way same way Matt spoke to you.”

I bite my lip, another tear slipping down my cheek. “Matt and I had been together for so long, and at some point in our time together, I accepted it as love. You know as well as I do how charming they can be after being monsters. I always thought you and Ben were so fresh and didn’t understand how you tolerated that behavior so early on. I cheered when you left him.” I let out a small laugh.

After a few beats of silence, I feel the need to add, “A woman has been trying to get ahold of me. She claims she’s pregnant with his baby. I didn’t believe it. Not until I heard what you guys said in there. She keeps leaving voicemails and texts, trying to get ahold of him. Trying to get him to be responsible for it. I’d just assumed she wanted money or to rub in that she slept with my husband.”

“I’m sure money is probably all she wants.” Kourtney shrugs. “Call her back, see what she has to say. I mean, if you want.”

“Maybe I will. Anyway,” I push my hair behind my cheeks, some of the strands now wet from sticking to my tear-stained cheeks. “Truce for now? Can we go back out there and enjoy girls’ night without the tension?”

Kourtney finally looks dead in my eyes and gives me a small smile, although, by her glassy eyes, it could be the alcohol talking. I hope she remembers this conversation tomorrow. “Yes.”

Rising off the couch, she takes me by the hand and guides me back to the main area.

Emily’s eyes widen as we walk back up to the group together. I shake my head, knowing my sister will wait until we're alone to ask what the hell has happened in the last hour.

Chapter 25

Tiny

Typing in the code, I disarm her alarm and kick my boots off at the door. I received an alert to my phone fifteen minutes ago that Kourtney made it home from a successful girls night, if all the guys are right.

A few of the guys were getting live updates from their very drunk women, and if the view on Kourtney’s bathroom camera is accurate, I’d say my girl is way past three sheets to the wind.

Shutting off damn near every light in her house on my way to her bedroom, I lean up against the doorframe to her bathroom. Even as drunk as she is, she stands barefoot against the sink, trying to wash the makeup off her face.

“Need help?” My deep voice startles her, and she screams.

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