Page 38 of The Homewrecker's Fate

“Bet the asshole didn’t like that at all.”

“Nope. Especially when he realized I didn’t even know it was him there.” I giggled along with Brax’s laughter. “He was curious about what had my attention so thoroughly occupied, but I told him it was none of his business. He started to tell me about his regrets again, but then stopped and simply asked when we could talk about the baby.” I sighed before adding, “I told him we’d talk when I was ready and not a moment sooner.”

“So, what else happened today?”

My shoulders slumped as I relayed what happened with Bridgette leaving and her explanation about how he had been frat bros with Rich once upon a time.

“Did she even tell him she was leaving?”

“I don’t think so. She asked that I not tell him where she went.”

“Damn, I hope he likes spooning with his frat bro. Sounds like he lost a good one at the expense of covering his boy’s ass.”

“It sucks. I want to blame it all on Rich, but honestly, Cliff made his own bed by going along with that shit. If he had just said something to begin with…” I halted my tirade there. “Then I have to remember that it wasn’t his place to tell me the truth. Rich should have been the one to own up to what he was doing.”

“That doesn’t give Cliff a free pass, though. He should have spoken up, especially when he knew Rich was coming to work at your office and bringing his family along.”

“Well, I guess he served up some of his own karma because he lost a good woman as a result and the respect of another one.”

“At least you know for sure that Bridgette was never in on that shit.”

“I already knew that, but yeah, it’s nice to have it confirmed. I hate that it ruined the life she was working toward, but she wasn’t wrong. If he would lie to her to cover up for Rich, then what else would he lie to her about? It’s hard enough to trust people sometimes, but when they give you reason not to, it’s even harder to get that faith in someone back.”

“Avi, I promise you right now, that is not something you will ever have to worry about with me. We can make a vow, a pact, whatever you need. Honesty, even if it hurts.”

“I like that. Not that it might hurt, but that you’re willing to acknowledge that it might one day.”

“Right now, I see a future with you in it. That doesn’t mean either one of us will always feel that way. There’s no way of knowing, since this is all so new. I promise to always be honest and upfront, and I hope you give that back to me, too.”

“I promise.” It was an easy thing to do and would be just as easy to keep. “Now, where are we going?”

He chuckled in the seat next to mine while he maneuvered through holiday traffic. “I promise, you will see when we get there, and hopefully you’ll love the surprise.”

“Okay, but for the record, you might want to find a bathroom in the next twenty minutes, if we’re going further than that.”

“You have to go?” Brax started searching for a place to pull off as I shook my head.

“Not yet, but I do have a baby dancing on my bladder, so it stands to reason that it won’t be long before the need arises.”

We both laughed at that. “You just let me know, and I’ll see to your needs, sweetheart. We’re not going too far, but it will be more than twenty minutes in the car.”

One hour, and two bathroom stops later, we pulled up outside of a cabin that was nestled in the middle of what appeared to be a forest. No other cabins were in sight, thanks to the trees, but I could hear the faint noise of voices and motors that belied my initial assessment.

“Welcome to Juniper Lake.” I turned to see Braxton standing there with several bags over his shoulder.

“Wait! We’re staying here overnight?”

“We’re staying for the week, sweetheart.”

“No!” I damn near yelled. Braxton stopped in his tracks and the wide grin he had been sporting slipped from his face.

“You don’t want to spend the week with me?” He asked.

“It’s not that. My-” What I’d been about to say was cut off when the front door opened and a voice that I knew all too well called out to me.

“Girl, quit giving that man a hard time and hustle up! Dinner is ready.”

I turned watery eyes toward Brax as he stole the rest of my battered heart and made it his. “How?”

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