Page 116 of Outside The Wire

I stormedinto the hotel room, throwing my purse down as I paced into the small living area. I heard Chase and Patrick enter behind me, probably terrified of my mental state. They were always looking after me, always watching my every move. I’d seen them looking in my purse, checking my coat pockets for drugs. They didn’t trust me, and I could understand why. Four years in a coma gave them every reason not to trust me.

“Jade,” Chase started.

“He left with her,” I whispered.

“Jade, it was a shock,” he continued. “Why did you go that way?”

I shoved my fingers through my hair, so angry with myself for not going right to the bathroom like I intended. I saw him and it broke my heart. He was kissingher. My husband, the man who was supposed to be in love with me, was kissing someone else. Yes, it had been five years, but why? Why hadn’t he waited?

“Jade…”

“He was kissing her,” I sniffled, wiping my nose. “They looked so happy.”

Chase sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets. “If we’d known they were going to be there, we never would have taken you to that restaurant.”

I nodded. I already knew that. “I just… I can’t believe it, you know? He looked so happy.” I slumped down on the couch and pulled my knees up to my chest.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. “When I woke up in that hospital bed, I thought this was my second chance,” I cried. “And then Asher never showed up.” I looked up at them. “Do you know what that was like? To wake up and everyone you know is gone? Four years had passed and…everything was different. I should have died.”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” Chance insisted. “Do you think Asher would want that?”

I huffed out a sardonic laugh. “After the way he looked at me tonight? I’m not so sure.” I wiped the tears tracking down my face and tilted my head back until it rested on the couch. “She’s the complete opposite of me. She’s probably completely normal with no fucked up childhood, no emotional baggage, no nightmares about being whipped and almost raped. I bet she even bakes and cooks for him.”

“I could go over to her place and find out,” Patrick offered. “I’m always up for a home-cooked meal.”

I glared at him. “If you eat her food, I will murder you.”

“Right, so, not quite as innocent as you’re portraying yourself.”

“I never said I was innocent. God, why her?”

“If not her, it would be someone else,” Chase answered. “It’s been five years, Jade. He thought you were dead.”

I had no one to blame but myself. I’d already lost my whole life, but now I lost my husband, too. What was I going to do now? What if he didn’t want to see me again?

“Why wouldn’t he even talk to me?”

“I would imagine the shock of seeing a dead person had something to do with it,” Patrick said. “I was a little surprised when you turned up. Almost did a header, myself.”

“Would you shut up?” Chase snapped.

“What? I’m just saying the guy has the right to be a little conflicted about how he feels.”

“We’re here for Jade,” Chase argued.

“Hey, I’m just here for the entertainment. And so far, you’re doing a great job, kid,” he grinned, sitting down in my armchair and kicking up his heels. “Let’s see what fun we can have tomorrow.”

I couldn’t even be mad at Patrick. He was always the one keeping a smile on my face back when Asher first married me. He teased me, guarded me, watched my every move, even took a bullet for me. I knew he meant the best. It was just his way.

Groaning, I rubbed my hands up and down my face to brush away the anger and frustration of the night. I wasn’t going to solve anything by crying on the couch. I needed a plan.

“I need some sleep.”

“Sure, but no pills,” Patrick said playfully. “And no drinking toilet water. No matter what they say, it doesn’t really have magical properties.”

“Patrick, you’re so disgusting.”

“I am, but you learn to live with me. Now, let’s get to it.”

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