Page 99 of Just My Luck

Russell tsked his tongue. “Wife.” The word spat from his mouth like venom. “Are you still putting on that charade?” He shook his head and sighed. “As an unlikely couple, you two are pretty convincing, I’ll give you that. You’ve fully seduced Bug into thinking the marriage is real.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. “It is real. My feelings for Sloane are very real.”

My father sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I swear, when will my children learn to stop moving through life tethered by their heartstrings?”

I barely recognized the man sitting next to me. His navy bespoke suit was a stark contrast to my simple jeans and scuffed work boots.

He sucked in a deep breath through his nose and exhaled. “To be honest, I’m quite proud. You found a way to pull the brewery out from under me.” His wink sent an oily shiver down my back. “Maybe there’s hope for you to live up to my name yet.”

Reeling, I sat against the black leather interior with closed eyes and let painful realization wash over me.

Everything in my life was made of tinder, and Russell King had lit a match.

THIRTY-FIVE

SLOANE

Abel returned home a fractured man.

He painted a small smile on his face and reassured the kids that his conversation with the police was not a big deal. The red marks around his wrists told me differently.

I knew deep down that his brave face was a facade to not scare my children, and while I deeply appreciated that, I couldn’t help but feel discouraged that he’d shut me out too.

If he looked at me one more time with sad eyes and saidI’m fine, I was going to scream.

Over the next few days, Abel buried himself in work, leaving to check or recheck temperatures, filters, and pumps. We were living in his house without him, and his absence left my emotions feeling raw.

Frazzled, I jolted when my phone rang. Clutching my throat, I let out a relieved laugh at how jumpy I’d been lately. Recognizing my lawyer’s number, I painted a smile on my face and attempted to sound cheery. “Hello?”

“Sloane? Laura Michaels. Is now a good time?” I had learned to appreciate my lawyer’s directness. She had come highly recommended and was a respected family law attorney.

“Hey, Laura. Thanks.” I checked my watch. “It’s fine. What’s up?”

“A small update. We’ve submitted a statement disagreeing to each point in your ex-husband’s complaint on your behalf. We have also filed a counterclaim. The next step is a meeting with the friends of the court case manager. Given the past domestic nature of your relationship, those meetings will be held separately. Although it seems the plaintiff’s attorney has had some difficulty contacting their client.”

My mind raced back to finding the shower curtain open. I knew that just because Jared was quiet, it didn’t mean he was gone.

“I know Jared. He will put up a fight.” I hated knowing the truth in my words.

“I would assume so based on the aggressive nature of his complaint.” Her words were harsh, but honest. “I do have to tell you...”

My heart hammered. “What is it?”

“The complaint was well drafted and brings to light some very difficult issues, particularly the short nature of your relationship and the criminal history of your current spouse.”

The air swirled around me, and I was stunned into silence. This was supposed to be a slam dunk.

“If you stay with him,” she continued, “there is a very real possibility that your ex-husband will gain custody of the children, depending on the judge.”

The truth stabbed like a driven nail. My hands shook. “I can’t lose my children.” My voice cracked, and I was barely holding it together.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure that doesn’t happen. However, if we cannot mediate a custody and visitation agreement with the FOC, it will go in front of a judge, who will beforced to make a final ruling in what he or she believes is in the best interest of the children.”

My knees shook, and I sank to the floor. My voice was barely a whisper. “I understand.”

My attorney politely ended the call, and I stared into nothingness. I couldn’t seem to wrap my brain around the fact that I could accept a custody agreement that allowed my dangerous ex-husband access to our children or fight and risk losing them altogether.

It wasn’t only Jared using Abel’s conviction against him, just as he’d feared. It was a heartbreaking realization that his past was a brand that he would always wear. So few were willing to look past it to see the man he was—the man he had worked so hard to become.

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