Page 23 of Second Chance Husband

I knew I should just calm down and not get annoyed that they were prying. But this was sibling time. When we all pried into each other’s lives and then updated one another.

I slid my hands over Sandy’s fur and sighed. I knew I probably should have mentioned it in the group chat, but getting dumped by your girlfriend while at work, all the while not realizing that you were calling her your girlfriend, wasn’t fun.

“Oh. I’m sorry,” Greer said as she leaned over the edge of the couch to pet my knee. Sandy took that as invitation and butted her little head against Greer’s palm. My sister smiled, and petted Sandy softly, before Sandy rolled back into my chest, nuzzling into me.

Well, at least the dog liked me.

“It’s okay. Dakota wasn’t right for me. It’s fine.”

“She dumped you?” Heath asked, and as I glared at him, he winced. “Sorry. I wasn’t being a dick. I was just surprised. You guys seemed to like each other.”

I frowned, not knowing why he would think that, since he had only met her a few times, and that was while we were at his bar having a drink. It wasn’t as if I had invited her over for family dinners or anything. Maybe that had been part of the problem. That I hadn’t invited her over for things. But we hadn’t been there. At least I didn’t think so. It was nice to have somebody, but I hadn’t thought we were truly serious.

And as evidenced by her walking away, she thought the same. We weren’t each other’s forever. And that was just something the world had to get used to. I was sadly already over it. Which probably said something more about me than it did anything else.

Luca came out at that moment, and smiled softly at Sandy on my lap, but didn’t move to take her. I didn’t mind, as the dog was now snoring on me.

“So what’d I miss?”

“Dakota and August broke up.”

“I’m sorry about that. She seemed nice.” Luca was silent for a moment, and I just let him be until he asked the question he wanted to. “So, how is this whole vacation going to go with the family, with you not bringing Dakota, and I assume Paisley isn’t going to bring that asshole Jacob.”

I winced, as my siblings all grumbled something about Jacob. It was nice that we all hated the man, even though none of us had known him.

Although Paisley wasn’t family, she had been around with the girls enough that it felt like that for them. Not for me, never for me. But the idea that none of us knew Jacob even though she’d been married to the man? That was all red flags.

And I hadn’t caught it because I had been too busy trying not to be jealous over my ex-wife.

Not that it had worked well.

“We’ll make do. We always do. It’s not like we’re sharing a room.” I glared at my sister. “No setups. We’re divorced. We’re finally getting along somewhat. Don’t screw it up.”

Greer held up both hands. “I promise I’ll be good. I’m just excited for the Cassidy family vacation. I know we could all use a break.”

I nodded, grateful that my scheduled break within my school year lined up with the break we were having as a family.

It would be nice to go to a resort up in the mountains and just hang out, hike a bit, dip in the heated pool, and just be. I would probably end up bringing some form of curriculum to work on, but it wouldn’t be too bad. Everyone else would be off with their families, kids and all, and I would be alone, with a drink, and the view. And far away from Paisley.

“I’m just sorry it happened before the trip.” He cringed. “Well, that sounded selfish of me, but it’s the truth. Bringing her to a family event like that was a big deal, and now…well…”

I shook my head at my brother. “It’s fine. We still work together, and she isn’t glaring at me. It just didn’t work out. No hard feelings.”

Again, that was a testament to something I did not want to think about.

“It’ll be good for Paisley to get out of the city for a bit too.”

I frowned at Greer’s words. “What do you mean?”

“Haven’t you been watching the news at all? Every single local gossip column is talking about it, and even the main local news mentioned it. The Bartons are big money here, and his sudden and secret divorce is a thing.”

Hell. I hadn’t seen it.

Because I had been avoiding it.

“Getting Paisley some time to breathe will be good, and I’m glad she’s coming.” Heath looked at me. “As long as you’re okay with it.”

I scowled again. “She’s friends with your wives and Greer. I long ago gave up the idea that I could control how you guys dealt with her. It’s water under the bridge. We’re all adults.”

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