Page 31 of Second Chance Husband

“Well, he’s gone. And I’m going to have another drink, and I’m not even going to think about him again. Because that’s why I’m here with you. On a vacation with the family that’s not my own, I’m going to have a drink, watch you guys play with your families and thrive and be wonderful. And then I’ll deal with the press and the fallout and everything that comes from that man later.”

The girls gave me a look, and we continued to talk, and I knew that no matter what I said, I would still have to grovel a bit more.

I should have told them. I knew it. But I’d been so embarrassed.

I had wanted to make this marriage work. I couldn’t make mine with August work, but maybe I could have made one with Jacob work. On paper we fit in every way possible. And then he had left me just like August had.

And on that thought, I took another drink, once again annoyed with myself.

By the time we had dinner, I was a few drinks in, but didn’t switch to water. I wasn’t slurring or messy, but I was quiet, eating while everybody laughed and joked and talked about the next day’s activities, while I nodded along and ate my food. August kept giving me weird looks, but then again, he always did. So far, we were making the room situation work, however, this would be our first night sleeping under the same roof. Well, not the exact first night considering I’d slept in his guest room not too long ago. I would just pretend it was that. Another way of me making a fool of myself. Oh look, another drink.

When I switched to water, August looked less concerned, and I wanted to go do shots or something just to annoy him. But that was petty, and I was not petty.

I was just tired.

And alone. But I was better off alone. Getting messy with anyone else just felt like connections that didn’t make any sense.

I wasn’t going to let that be a problem.

Instead, when everyone moved off to the cabana to watch a movie, I waved them off and went to my room.

I would go take a bath, have some alone time while they had family time.

Because they had made families. And I, the person who was ahead of the game, was far behind.

Go me.

I went to my bathroom and turned on the faucet, letting the water pour and fill up the tub, while I went to pour myself a glass of wine.

“Shouldn’t you have some more water?”

I nearly dropped the glass, fumbling it in my hand, as wine sloshed over the side.

“What the hell?” I snapped, setting the bottle down. “I could have broken that.”

“You didn’t. Good reflexes for someone who’s wasted.”

“I’m not wasted. I’m buzzed. I’m happy. Let me be happy.”

He gave me a look and shook his head. I could never read that look. Maybe I used to at one point, but then again, I hadn’t been good at that before, had I?

“You were just fine at reading my looks before,” he growled.

Maybe I’d had too much to drink if I had said that out loud and I hadn’t realized.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your family?”

“My family is hanging out with the kids and having child movie time. Greer and her husbands are off in their cabin alone and I don’t want to think about that. So I was going to sit in the living room or take a hot shower. Except you are in my bathroom.”

I pointed the wine bottle at him. “My bathroom. I’m going to take a bath, read a book, and finish this bottle of wine.”

“Great, so you’re going to be in here, taking up the time and space, while I have nowhere to go to be alone.”

“You have the entire resort. I’m sure there’s some single woman you can go slough off with and go have fun. Make a party of it. There’s a hotel bar.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “That’s just catty. You’re not catty, Paisley.”

I sighed and drained my partially filled glass. “I’m not catty. So I’m sorry. I just wanted to relax and take a bath. Have some alone auntie time. While everyone’s off enjoying themselves.”

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