Page 116 of My Rules

He smiles, mistaking my kindness for a weakness. “That sounds great. I’ll bring the paperwork with me then.”

“Thank you.”

He stands and kisses my cheek, and for the first time since our separation, I think that one day I’ll be able to look back on this divorce as a blessing. A lesson that I needed to be taught, and who knows, maybe it was written in the stars all along.

I walk out of the restaurant with my head held high. The house is going to be mine and mine alone.

I push out of the doors and into the cool air of the street. I want to jump in the air and punch it. But I won’t, because this is John, and until I get that contract signed in front of me and the house completely signed over to me ... I can’t actually trust a word he says.

I walk up the front steps and knock on the door. Taryn’s smiling face comes into view. “You ready?” I ask.

“Just a minute; let me get my shoes.” She darts off, and Barry and I walk out and sit on the front steps. It’s a beautiful afternoon, and I have to admit that having the job of walking Barry every afternoon has made me exercise more. He’s been so naughty that he’s getting three walks a day now. I’ve walked more this week since I’ve had him than I have in the last twelve months.

Maybe I should get a dog of my own?

Taryn bounces down the stairs. “Let’s go.” She’s wearing gray tights and a matching sports bra; her stomach is cut, and her boobs are perfect. She looks incredible. I’m wearing a baggy T-shirt that has paint all over it and my old pants.

“I really need to make more of an effort. Look how gorgeous you look,” I tell her. “No wonder all the men look you up and down, Taryn. You’ve really got all your shit together.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.” She sighs. “If I didn’t have my tits out all the time, no one would even look at me.”

“That’s not true, and you know it. You could wear a potato sack and still be killing it,” I tell her. We make our way down the road, and I have to ask a question that’s been burning a hole in my tongue. “Have you heard from Blake?” I ask.

“Why would I hear from Blake?” She takes Barry’s lead off me. “Let me hold him. I want to pretend I have a dog for a day.”

“You know, I thought that after you and Blake hooked up a couple weeks ago, he would have called you or something.”

“What are you talking about? I never hooked up with Blake.”

“I thought that night after Carol’s, you two got it on.”

“No.” She screws up her face in question. “Why on earth would you think that I hooked up with Blake?”

“Well, he had a huge hickey on his neck, and I thought you were the only one capable of doing it.” I smirk.

“Oh my god.” She rolls her eyes in disgust. “Trust me, I do not give men hickeys. I don’t want to remember it myself. Why would I leave evidence for the world to see?”

I laugh. “That makes sense, I guess.” I frown as a new thought comes through. “But if you didn’t hook up with Blake, who gave him the love bite?”

“No idea.” She thinks for a moment. “There was no one there that night but us.”

“Yeah, I know, very interesting,” I think out loud.

“Maybe it was Carol.”

“What the hell.” I laugh. “Why would it be Carol?”

“I saw Carol sneaking back into her house that night at about four a.m.”

I frown as I stare at her. “Sneaking back in from where?”

“I don’t fucking know.” She sighs. “Our street is getting out of control.”

I laugh in surprise. “I mean, if Carol is getting some action and I’m not, there is a serious problem around here.”

“You could have action if you wanted to have action.”

“As if. With who?”

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