Page 105 of Two Wrongs

Part of him is still worried I’m going to take off again. I know that if I would have stayed we could have talked things out, but I’m not sure that would have been enough to convince me he could find a balance between our relationship and his relationship with Liam. Worse, I’m not sure I would have believed that he wasn’t just trying to make things work because I’m pregnant. Him coming all the way to Florida to come and get me back, without knowing about the baby, even I can’t deny he chose me this time. Now I have to choose him.

First step is to get my job back so I’m not a burden to him. I enter the bar and go and sit in front of Donovan. “Hey Wrenegade,” he greets me.

“Hi, do you have a second to talk?” I ask him.

“Sure, do you want something to drink?” he asks.

Bess strolls past and mutters, “Dumbass.”

His eyes go wide. “Of soda! I’m not trying to serve a pregnant woman booze.”

Behind me a chair screeches across the floor and topples over. “Pregnant?” I hear a voice slur. “At least I know this one isn’t mine.”

I turn around and find Liam struggling to stand up. My head snaps back to Donovan. “How much has he had to drink?”

“You’re not my mom,” Liam says and hiccups. “Not yet at least.” He laughs at his own joke.

He stumbles over and gets close enough I can smell the alcohol wafting off his breath. “This one’s not mine.” Liam continues to laugh. “The funny thing is you’re actually my wife.”

“Not anymore,” I mumble.

His eyes narrow, and he stabs his finger into the bar top. “I didn’t sign those papers.”

I got a call from Dolores while we were driving. She went through the mail I’d received in my absence. One of my letters was from my attorney. “But I did. I didn’t realize that your signature wasn’t necessary. It just made it take longer.”

“So we’re divorced?”

I shrug. “Looks like it.”

He smirks, and it looks nothing like when his dad does it. Griffin’s grin sets my body alive, Liam’s makes me feel like I need a shower. He leans closer into my personal space. “Maybe we can act out some of my naughty step-mother fantasies.”

The door slams open, and in walks a pissed off Griffin. “Get the fuck away from her.”

“Maybe I should have told you that. Never thought I had to ask you to keep your hands off my wife.”

“She’s not your wife anymore. You left her. I love you son, but I’m not going to join you in your misery. I love her too, and I’m going to marry her.”

“This is bullshit,” he sneers and pushes away from the bar.

“What’s bullshit is you’re going to be a father, and you’re here drunk in the middle of the day. Blame me, blame Wren, but look in a fucking mirror and own your shit. Your kid doesn’t deserve this. I know, I lived it.”

Griffin reaches out to me, and I take his hand. When we’re outside he leans down and says in my ear, “You’re not going back to work at the bar.”

“I’ve got to work,” I insist.

“I know, baby bird, but I need you to give me some time. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

A smile spreads across my face. He’s already surprised me more than I ever anticipated, because for the first time, he chose me.

41

Griffin

“Wake up, baby bird.” Gently shaking her shoulder I manage to rouse Wren from a deep sleep.

Her green eyes slowly open to look up at me. There’s a weight that has lifted from her since we left the bar yesterday. I should have figured my shit out earlier, and it’s going to take a long time for me to forgive myself for ever making her doubt me. Maybe even longer for lying to myself that I could ever let her go.

I thought it was for the best. She could live without me, find a man her own age, explore the world, not be held down by the years between us. Even worse, I’d pushed her away because of a lie I told myself. If she was gone, Liam and I could go back to normal, and I wouldn’t lose my son.

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