Page 6 of Ruthless Love

Her assumption about why Cain and I split up hits me right in the chest. We weren't unhappy. At least, I don't think we were. If I think back, I can say I wasn't unhappy. I wanted more, and he wasn't open to hearing it, but then again, I'm not sure I was open to hearing what he needed either. "Cain and I are difficult. There were several reasons we split."

She leans forward. "I saw your comment on this post of him with the puppy the other day. Are you and him looking to get back together? That was super flirty."

I'm still not sure why I made that comment, other than I was jealous after seeing all the women and men talking about how hot he is. If anyone knows how hot he is, it's me. Has he had anyone touching him since I left? Is there someone taking care of his needs in ways I couldn't? I try not to let myself think about these things, but once in a while, those thoughts come through. "I don't know what we're doing. We haven't spoken in six months," I confess.

Her eyes widen and her mouth drops open. "Why haven't you spoken to him in six months? He's the hottest cop on the force, and most of the single people in this town know it. Including me," she says out of the corner of her mouth.

"Oh, I'm fully aware." And becoming more so every single day.

"So, are you really going to let him go without a fight? If he were mine, I'd put up a fight."

Before she said these words, I was okay with letting it all go. The past six years of marriage, the last nine years of being together, but was I too quick to give up? "I think you're right, Katie. I need to fight. I don't know how to do that right now, but I'm going to. I don't think I'll ever forgive myself if I don't."

Katie grins. "I support this. Y'all are the hottest couple together, and I need someone to prove to me that true love wins. I gotta go. I have a wedding dress fitting. Thank you so much for talking to me today, Marissa."

"You're welcome. Anytime you need a discussion, you can come in. You're always welcome here."

We stand, and she comes over, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. "Thank you, I'll see ya around. Good luck with Cain."

"Thanks girl, I'm gonna need it."

I watch her leave the entire time my mind on the man I thought I was done with. Maybe I'm not as done as I imagined.

SIX

CAIN

It's beena couple of days since the puppy picture has taken Bitterroot Gap by storm. I expected it to die down within a few hours, but to my surprise, it's still happening.

"Sorry I'm late," Wyatt apologizes as he hurries in.

"I started without you," I grunt, lifting the weight high above my head before bringing it down in a controlled descent. Carefully, I place the bar on the power rack and sit up to face him. "Figured I might as well get a few extra minutes while waiting. Not like I have anything else happening. Why were you late, anyway?"

He gives me a shit-eating grin. "There was a fender bender next to The Dinner Bell Diner, so I stopped to assist."

"How cute was she?" I chuckle.

With a gasp, he clutches his chest. "How dare you imply I stopped to help for anything other than being a good citizen and an off-duty cop?"

He's not fooling me. We've been partners and friends since we both joined the force together. "Who was it?"

"Jennifer," he blows out a breath. "So you know I was fucked."

I throw back my head, laughing so hard my stomach hurts. He's had it bad for Jennifer since we were in high school. She's never given him the time of day, and when they do speak to one another, it's like oil and water. It's like he can't seem to help himself. "I'm surprised she let you help."

He lays down on the bench press, while I move to spot him. "She didn't want to, but it was bad enough that her airbags deployed, and there was a cut over her eye. It was bleeding, and she was scared. You know how bad head wounds gush. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to scare her."

"Did you two just fall in love, or what?" I tease him.

"No, we didn't. She threw a glare at me when I suggested she have someone stay with her tonight in case she has a concussion."

I wish these were the issues Marissa and I have. They would be so easy to take care of. She's always allowed me to take care of her in those ways. It was the bedroom we had problems with. The longer she's gone, the more those times when I asked for something else, and then she asked, play over and over in my head. I used to think I was right, but now I'm beginning to think we just weren't listening to each other. I clear my throat of the sudden tightness. "I bet she hated that."

"Hated isn't strong enough. She accused me of trying to use a tragedy to hit on her."

"Well, didn't you?" I raise my eyebrows while looking down at him.

"No, I was worried about her. She lives by herself, with no one to check on her," he argues. "For the first time, I wasn't trying to wiggle my way into her life."

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