Page 81 of Golden Rule

He nods. “Then I look forward to seeing you next time.”

We stand, grabbing a bit of paperwork from the front desk before we head out to the car. I’m on cloud nine, and as we make our way toward the highway, heading back to Cypress Pointe, it’s impossible not to wonder if this is it. Is this the one that will finally work?

Chapter Twenty-Four

West

Blue’s head rests on my shoulder as she scrolls her phone, killing time before the infamous Seth shows up. Today will be our first time meeting, and I promised I’d be on my best behavior. I’m not the kind of husband who gets his nuts in a knot just because his wife’s building a professional relationship with another man. However, Iamthe kind of husband who will fuck some guy’s shit up if he steps out of line.

But I’m keeping an open mind. If Blue thinks everything’s on the up-and-up, I’ll trust that until Seth gives me reason to believe otherwise.

“Of course,” Blue sighs, and I glance down at her phone screen to see what’s up. “Someone spotted us at the gas station in North Brook, now they’re speculating why we were there.”

I’m honestly sick of this shit. Yeah, we chose Dr. Tyler because he’s an amazing doctor with an incredible success rate, but let’s be honest. We chose him because he’s three hours outside of Cypress Pointe in North Brook. Wethoughta buffer like that would afford us a bit of privacy, but apparently the decision to stop at the gas station before hopping on the freeway shot that plan to hell.

“Do you think anyone saw us leaving his office?”

Blue peers up at me, the worry in her eyes tearing me to shreds. Placing my hand on her cheek, I kiss her forehead.

“No, Babe. I don’t think anyone saw. If they did, Pandora would’ve been all over it.”

She’s quiet, and I hate this—her worrying when we got so much good news today. We should be celebrating getting to move forward with treatment, but here we are, worrying that someone will find out we’ve sought help to grow our family.

A fact that shouldn’t bring even an ounce of shame because everyone’s journey is different.

“They didn’t catch usthistime, but… what if they donexttime?” she asks, and the fear in her voice has me wanting to burn this entire city down just for achanceto smoke out Pandora.

“Then, if that day ever comes, we’ll face it together. You and me. You have my word.”

She peers up again, those vivid blue irises staring back at me. When she nods, I kiss her forehead again.

At that very moment, the chime at the entrance of the dinerdings. Blue and I both glance that way. I’ve seen Seth in themany pics Pandora has posted of him and Blue over the weeks, so I recognize him right away. And as if hewantsme to kick his ass, he’s got this eager grin on his fucking face as he scans the diner, looking for Blue. It takes him a moment, but he finally sees us sitting here, and I almost laugh out loud, watching his grin fade as he realizes she’s not alone today.

“Hey!” Blue says, waving him over. She’s so used to being nice toeveryone, she has no idea this guy is probably reading more into it.

Walking this way, he puts that smile back on, but it’s more tense now.

“Be nice,” Blue says under her breath, and I intend to be a man of my word, but the protective side of me has me on high alert.

I stand when Seth walks up, and his eyes widen a bit. I’ve been told I’m larger and more intimidating up close, and in this case, I’m perfectly fine with that. Maybe it’s best he gets a good look at the guy who will fuck him up on sight if he steps out of line.

“You must be West,” he says, shaking my hand.

“And you must be Seth. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Likewise,” he says, clearing his throat right after.

I lower into my seat when he does, draping my arm across the back of mine and Blue’s side of the bench. The tension is more than thick.

“So… how’s your week been?Bothof you,” he adds, shifting his gaze from Blue when he remembers there are two of us seated on this side of the booth.

“Good. Just busy,” Blue says. “Yours?”

“Same, same.”

He goes silent after answering her question, and I have the feeling he’d be a whole lot more talkative if it were just my wifesitting here. But I digress. I’m supposed to stay on my leash, right?

“So,” I sigh, “how long have you been in this line of work, Seth?”

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