Page 15 of Suddenly Single

I hit send, then stared up at the ceiling. Cobwebs were in every corner, and if I didn’t get this place cleaned up soon, I’d have an asthma attack from all the dust and mice turds.

My phone pinged, and it fell to my lap. When I picked it up, I noticed my knuckles were red, and cracked. It was like my body was aging overnight from all the stress of the last few days. Mom had warned me to keep my mouth shut, that I’d lose everything if I told the truth. Looked like she was right, but I still felt like I’d done the right thing. Keeping the truth from Asher was wrong, which was why I was livid with him. He’d known all along, and I wondered if he’d have gone to his grave never telling me the truth about our marriage.

“Was our entire relationship based on lies? What else has Asher kept from me?” I shook my head, then looked at the latest message.

Thank God you’re okay. Come home.

“Where are you Carter?” Florida sounded pissed. I’d spent the last couple of hours trying to clean the place up, but I needed professional help. I was about to call her, but she beat me to it. “What the hell has your man done to you?”

“How do you…?”

“Asher didn’t sleep all night, and Mrs. Yates stayed up with him.” Poor Asher, he should have taken pills like I did.

“Where is he now?”

“He went to the cottage an hour ago, hopefully to sleep.” Florida said. “When are you coming home?”

“I’m at my new home.” I sighed. “We’re not married anymore, Florida.” I sighed. “He knew we weren’t married, yet he said nothing.”

“I don’t understand.”

In my head I could see Florida in the kitchen of the Yates’ estate, wringing her hands. “When we got married in Colorado, there was a mistake, a technical glitch. Turns out our marriage has never been valid, and Asher knew about it.”

“I’m going to smack that boy into next week!” Florida yelled, and a small smile spread across my cheeks. At least someone cared about me. “How did you find out?”

“The state of Colorado sent both of us a letter stating that the marriage wasn’t valid.” My stomach growled, and I realized I hadn’t eaten since yesterday. If I was with Asher, I’d just stroll up the driveway and get Florida to make something for me. “I told Asher about it, and it turns out he knew too, but was keeping me in the dark.”

“Jesus Christ Almighty. Well, I can tell you right now that Asher loves you. He and his momma were up all night.” Florida clucked her tongue. “I wonder if Mrs. Yates knows about the marriage? She’s worried about you, too.”

“I don’t know.” I sat down on the couch and coughed from the dust. “Florida, do you know anyone who could clean my place part-time? It’s too small for a full-time maid, but to be honest, it’s a disaster right now.”

“What about Corinne? She knows you, and…”

“I don’t want your niece to work for me because she works for Asher, too. Don’t you know anyone else?” Honestly, I’d do it myself, but I didn’t have experience dealing with mice and years of neglect. This loft used to be stunning, and now it was a shambles. Like my life.

“My sister Georgia might do it. She’s retired, but money is money. If it’s just part-time, I bet she’d help you out."

“Good lord, do you have a sister named South Carolina, too?” I grinned at my stupid joke.

“Shut up, Carter.” I heard a smile in Florida’s voice, then a door slammed in the background.

“Is that Carter?” It was Asher. He must have just come into the kitchen. A tear snaked down the side of my nose and I brushed it away.

“I’ve gotta go.” I said. “Give your sister my number and tell her to call me ASAP. I’ve got mice, and the place is a disaster.”

“It’s him, isn’t it.” I heard Asher’s voice again. “Let me talk to him, Florida.”

“Don’t touch my phone. Carter doesn’t want to talk…”

“Carter, please!” Asher must have snatched the phone out of Florida’s hand. God, I loved this man so much, but there was only so much I could take. Maybe we could work it out, but I kept remembering him saying that he wished we’d never been married in the first place. “Baby, I love you.”

My breath hitched, and without a second thought, I disconnected the call.

Chapter 9

Asher

“Give me that damned phone!” Florida snatched the phone back from me and scowled. “Carter? Are you still there?” Florida shook her head in disgust and placed the phone on the kitchen counter. “You've broken Carter’s heart, Asher. Shame on you!”

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