Page 50 of Two Wrongs

My mouth hangs open for a second. “That’s it? Bess,” I glare at her, “let’s it slip that I’m having an affair with Griffin, and that’s all you want to know?”

Donovan shrugs. “I can’t really think of a better form of revenge. Liam fucked around for months, so you do his dad. It’s brilliant. I can’t think of anything better.”

I down the rest of my beer. “Yeah? Well, I’m going to sell his car too.”

Donovan starts laughing so hard he has to clutch his stomach. Bess looks at me with pride. “I fucking love you, girl.”

“Don’t get too excited. He stole money from his dad and opened lines of credit in my name. The car is in my name, so I’m selling it to fix the shit storm he left behind,” I explain.

“Doesn’t matter,” Donovan starts, “he’s still going to be pissed, and I fucking love this for him.”

Yeah, I kind of did too. I know Charlie is worried about Liam, but I don’t think it’s my place to care anymore.

20

Griffin

“Charlie, you’re my best friend, but I’m only going to say this once. Leave Wren alone.” I fight the urge to hit him. Never in the decades of our friendship have we ever fought out of anger, but that could change depending on how he chooses to treat her after this.

“You know what people are going to say. How this is going to look. They’re going to say that you’re more concerned with that girl than your own son.”

“People, or you?” I ask.

I pick up the prescription bottles she threw at him and look at them. The dates on them are recent, and I don’t know if these are a recent prescription or something she’s been taking for a long time. I know her parents’ deaths hit her hard, but Liam never said anything about her taking medication. Back then he used to share a lot more with me, at least I thought he did. Maybe he didn’t know.

“Put yourself in her shoes. She’s lost her family, and her husband has betrayed her in pretty much every way possible. He stole from her too, Charlie.”

I press on, because he needs to hear this. He can judge me all he wants, but he will leave her the the fuck alone. “Today she got a message from Carl. He’s had a family emergency and has decided to shut down the insurance agency. So, I thought since she needs a job, and we need help, she could come work here.”

Charlie steps close and gets in my face. “That’s not all she’s doing though. You don’t think I understand why she’d want to get some of her own back? Screwing her husband’s father ought to teach him a lesson for cheating.”

My anger bubbles over. I explode and shove him against the wall. Before he has a chance to react I press my forearm against his throat. He gurgles when I push down a bit harder. “Say what you want about me, but you will keep your fucking mouth shut about her.”

I shove myself away from him, and he doubles over to catch his breath. “At least you’re man enough to defend her. I’ll ask you the same question I asked her. Are you going to be able to handle Liam’s reaction? He could cut you out of his life. Is she worth that?”

My eyes narrow and I take a step toward him. He raises his hands and holds me off. “Chill the fuck out and listen to what I’m actually saying, will you? I’m not judging you, I’m asking you if you are going to be able to handle what Liam and others are going to say. Yeah, I took a cheap shot saying she was screwing you for revenge, because that’s what others are going to say too. You need to be ready to deal with it.”

It’s like letting the air out of a balloon. For a moment I was all puffed up and ready to burst. He relaxes when he sees I’m listening to him. “Don’t get me wrong, I care about Liam. I practically helped you raise him, but he has you. Her father is gone, and he was a good man. I urge you to drop this and let her be. She’s going to have too much thrown her way when the rest of the town figures out what is going on with you two.”

“I wish I could. I can’t even explain what is going on, except she’s vital to me,” I explain.

“How are you ever going to let her go? She can’t stay here, not once this all comes out,” he pushes.

I nod. “I honestly don’t know, but I will. You’re right. She can’t stay here, this town has nothing left for her.”

“She would have you,” he offers.

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not enough, and I won’t ask her to sacrifice like my son has.”

Charlie looks around the office. “I hope you can get her to come back to work tomorrow. Did you know there was a desk under all that paper?”

I give him a light-hearted shove. “Like you’re any better with all this office shit.”

“No, I’m absolutely garbage at all of this. That’s why I write my notes down on whatever is around and let you deal with it,” he replies.

I pick up a piece of paper off of the few remaining stacks of paper. “Which I clearly haven’t been doing.”

Charlie slaps me on the back. “I’ve got your back. You better go and convince Wren to come back tomorrow. I really should have thought about how to start that conversation with her. I didn’t mean to drive her away. I only wanted to prepare her for what would come your way once everyone finds out. I’ll apologize to her, just get her to come back.”

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